Trust Helps You To Stand Firm

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7)

You cannot ride the fence of fear and indecisiveness; you either trust God, or you don’t.

Situations will come and go in our life and our trust in God is not based on the victory that is promised. It is based on WHO He is and what He has done and is doing and will do.  It is because He is God Almighty, Creator, and the One who sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us, for our eternal salvation.

It is based on His unconditional love for us that causes Him to reach out to us over and over and it is that same love that saved us and created us and a home in heaven awaiting us.

We should trust Him based on that and every situation that He brought us through victoriously.  We can look back and say, “God, You brought me through rough times before safely and victoriously and You will do it again.”

In I Kings 17 Elijah prophesied a drought due to the people's disobedience and following after the false god of Baal.

King Ahab became king of Israel at that time and he and his wife, Jezebel did evil in the eyes of God.  Jezebel had the prophets of the Lord killed. So, Obadiah took a hundred of the Lord’s prophets that she had not killed and hid them.

There are times when we need to stand our ground; to stand it in faith.

“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” (Isaiah 7:9)

We should never back down in fear because we are afraid of our enemy.  God has not given us a spirit of fear; that is not from Him. He gives us a measure of faith and then as we grow spiritually and walk with Him through each trial, our faith grows.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

 (II Timothy 1:7)

You should always examine yourself to see if it is fear that you are backing down, or if God is telling you to back down and wait, this is not the right time.  God will answer, He will act on your behalf when you pray to Him for help or guidance.  Sometimes it is through a verse you are reading, and it stands out, sometimes it is an inspiration in your heart.  “Every good and perfect gift is from the Lord.” Other times it is through someone else, or God will cause things to suddenly work out. God speaks and acts in many different ways so be sure that you are not putting Him in a box, thinking He can only act or speak in a certain way.  You are limiting Him when you do this, and you may miss what He is telling you or from receiving what He is trying to give you.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified.” (II Corinthians 13:5)

In this case, we can assume that Obadiah was hiding them because he was instructed to by the Lord.  The Lord will tell you at times, to fight and stand your ground now, and at others, wait or still at other times not at all.

“Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past.” (Isaiah 26:20)

Even Jesus at times, kept quiet, He knew who He was, and He did not have to argue the point, they either believed and feared Him out of respect or they didn’t.

That is why we need to examine our decisions, are we making them out of obedience because the Lord is telling us, or are we backing down out of fear? Sometimes fear comes when there is sin in our lives.  Sin, if not dealt with will cloud your vision, and the enemies against you such as job problems, other people, financial problems, relationship problems, health problems, and so on, will seem bigger than God causing you to back down in fear. Examine your heart to see why you are backing down.  Is it because God told you to or is it due to fear of the issues at hand?

There will be times when the situation may be fearful, but when you trust God, there is nothing to fear, and you will have the confidence you need to stand! You will know that you know that you know that God Almighty, El Shaddai has your back!

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

In I Kings 18, when Elijah, who had been away after he prophesied the drought, finally returned at the Lord’s command, he told Obadiah to let King Ahab know that he was there.  God wanted Elijah to present himself to Ahab.

When God tells you to do something, you can trust that He will back you up, so nothing to fear and complete confidence.

Elijah told King Ahab to have his prophets build an altar but put no fire under it, and he would do the same.  The god who burned up the altar would prove to be the real god.   The false prophets of Baal tried all day, no response.

You see, the false gods we erect in our lives can NEVER save, heal, or deliver!  Only the real, the living God, God Almighty Himself can do that!

Elijah had them douse the altar with water three times, then God all at once. instantly burned up the altar and dried up the water in the trench that surrounded the altar!  When God moves, you will know it!

The Israelites repented and then it was time, it was time to act, to stand and obey!  Elijah had them kill the false prophets of Baal and they wasted no time.  When you repent of the sin you harbored in your heart, your vision becomes clear, and you know Who your God is and just what a Mighty God we serve!  There is no fear and when He tells you to do something you act immediately with confidence, no fear!

Then the rain came!  The cleansing water of God and the Holy Spirit!  The water that will refresh the land of your heart and spirit.

“Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.  For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.” (Isaiah 44:2-3)

Trust God. He will never fail you and you will always gain the victory!

God has your back; He will always provide, protect, heal, comfort, answer, guide, and deliver! 

“With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.” (Psalm 60:12)