Faith Shakers

Christ has restored a thought that can plague many a weary soul. I have found that a common question among Christians and non-Christians alike is the "why is this happening to me?!" question. For example, I have found that it is quite easy to get sidetracked with my own thoughts when it comes to my future.

"Holy Pete! I'm gonna be a husband! Am I ready to be what Liz needs me to be? Will I be a great Dad?"
"Will I get into a Grad School that Liz does as well?"
"Am I a man by my standards, God's standards, or societies?"

Though these feeling can seem legitimate, they are also what I'll call "faith shakers". In one light, these "faith shakers" seem innocent; a mere thought floating by the vast expanse of constant conscious thought. However, what happens when these thoughts are entertained? Well many things end up happening. You become anxious, worried, or even depressed if these thoughts are doubts/fears. These feelings are hard to place, and they even seem hard to get rid of. If they become too hard to handle you may even resort to bad outlets: suicidal thoughts, drugs, alcohol, pornography. What was once a small thought that was entertained with your faith shaken has ended with the road going in the wrong direction.

How does this happen?

1 Peter 5:8 says "the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour"

O.K. so if he prowls like a lion and looking for someone to devour, so what?

Well, to put it frankly, the thoughts that are entertained that have lead you into a path of what feels like an uncomprimising situation was never a thought that you had. Did you ever want to feel left out? Torn up? Broken down? Of course not! However, here you are feeling "stuck" you "faith shaken".

When Paul talks of the Armor of God to the Ephesians he explains that the truth about all of the battles that we face are "not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12 KJV). So get this, the guy at work your struggling to not hate? that woman you lust after? These aren't just thoughts. They are also battles occurring in the spiritual level of things as well.

So if Satan wants to devour your life, and the battles you fight are not flesh battles but are actually a battle for your soul, how do you fight them off? Paul answers that as well when he talks of the armor of God. Among all the implements that represent this armor, Paul talks of the Shield of FAITH. And guess what its purpose is? "In addition to all this, take up the shield of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16 NIV). With this shield of faith, you can fight back all of the attacks the enemy can throw at you.

"It feels hard"

Well, it never was supposed to be easy. In fact, as a Christian, I feel that my life has been harder than it ever was without Christ. However, the payoff that I get is so much greater than any pain here on Earth. And as a Christian, the simple answer to any thing that comes to my mind can be answered in such a way to give glory to the one that means the most to me.

"What if I don't go into Grad School?"
Well, God has something better in store for me. He tells me this in Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'".

Christ used faith in God and scipture to back it up when he was in the wilderness and tempted by Satan. In this same light, we should also be doing the same thing. (see Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13)

My prayer for you is that God will shine His love on you in such a way that His uncomprimising faith becomes established in you. May you not be shaken by the enemy, but be established and confident in the strength of our God. May your faith and the Holy Spirit be your guidance in a world full of excuses and wickedness. If you need help, a friend, a prayer you know where I am, and you know where He is too. I love you and may God bless you week.