50 - Iype - "I am tempted to give up on my faith in God”
“Iype was a brother in India, who sent me a number of emails regarding the suffering and pressure he was increasingly facing financially during a time of unemployment. He was crying out to God about his many financial needs such as the leaky room of his home and his children’s schooling needs. As the time of strain continued, his wife was increasingly putting pressure on him, no doubt from her own fear of lack. As the pressure continued, and God was not answering him, he faced the crisis of faith, which God so often allows to come to His children, for their testing.”
Holding Onto Hope: Finding Strength in Suffering
Have you ever felt like your struggles are too much to bear? Like the weight of the world, or Satan, is crushing your faith and God is distant? You’re not alone. Many believers, throughout history and even today, face profound hardship. The apostle Peter understood this, writing to a scattered and persecuted church, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast" (1 Peter 5:10).
We may read “a little while” and think of a fleeting moment, but the Bible offers a different perspective. Paul, in Romans 8:18, states, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us." This echoes Peter's sentiment. Let us recall to mind that our earthly life, even a lifetime of trials, is but a brief moment compared to the eternity that awaits us. This “little while” of suffering is a refining fire, purifying our faith and preparing us for the glory to come (1 Peter 1:6-7).
In the New Covenant, we have a promise even greater than earthly prosperity: the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He empowers us to overcome sin, experience God's presence, and find contentment even in adversity. This doesn't mean we won't feel the pain of loss, disappointment, or physical suffering. But we can choose to respond with praise, thanking God even for our trials, knowing that He works all things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). As Jesus Himself said, "Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me" (Matthew 11:6).
So, when the storms of life rage around you, fix your eyes on Jesus, "the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the Father" (Hebrews 12:2). Remember, this life is a test of our faith. Cling to God, find strength in His promises, and trust that He will honor those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30). The opinion that matters most is not the world’s, but the one that lasts forever - God's opinion of you in Heaven.
