115 - Paul - “I am having feelings of losing my faith in Christ.”
“Paul, a brother I had communicated with several times, over the past seven to eight years, under my videos or via email, had sent us a voice recording, expressing that after years of hardship and suffering for he and his wife, he was worried that he might be losing his faith in Christ.”
Hope Deferred, Heart UNsick: Clinging to Faith in Trials
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. It was a time of testing, hardship, and reliance on God. Similarly, our Christian walk can often feel like a wilderness journey. But the wilderness is not a place of abandonment, but of refinement. We face trials, experience suffering, and wrestle with doubt. We may cry out, like the Psalmist, "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?" (Psalm 13:1).
Yet, in the midst of the wilderness, God is present. He provides for our needs, just as He provided manna for the Israelites (Exodus 16:15). He guides us, even when the path is unclear. He refines our faith, making us stronger and more dependent on Him.
The Apostle Paul understood the reality of suffering. He faced persecution, imprisonment, and physical ailments. Yet, he wrote, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Paul's strength came from his unwavering faith in Christ. He knew that his present sufferings were not comparable to the glory that awaited him (Romans 8:18).
When we face trials, it's easy to become discouraged and lose hope. We may question God's plan and wonder why He allows us to suffer so long. But we must remember that God is sovereign. He sees the bigger picture, and He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
Like Abraham, we are called to live by faith, even when our circumstances are difficult (Hebrews 11:8-10). We must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is our hope, our strength, and our guide through the wilderness of life. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
So, take heart, dear brother or sister. Your wilderness journey is not in vain. God is with you, and He will bring you through. Cling to Him in faith, never let go, and you will emerge from the wilderness stronger and more like Christ.
