Christianity Oasis Forum

[Netchaplain]

What a most secure and encouraging truth, that the believer will never again be alone after being reborn. And, not only the Father and Son’s (Rom 8:9; Gal 4:6 1Pet 1:11) Holy Spirit eternally within (Jhn 14:16) but also now and forever connected with all who are Theirs. Often in our trials we can become distracted from minding the truth that the Spirit of comfort (Jhn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) is ever in us—which is the greatest encouragement we can have, because we eventually learn that just knowing God remains in and with us resolves all difficulties. How encouraged the disciples could have been in the “boat” (Mk 4:39; Psa 89:9) if this had already been a part of their maturity. But greater is it when considering that this was merely another lesson (among many as we all know) being used for the maturing of their faith.

The difficulties that distract me the most are those I create, and I momentarily forget that I’m not alone. But regardless of where a trial comes from it is not only foreknown but has also been prearranged to benefit your faith, and this is what we are to remember the most for optimum consistency in our “endurance” (2Tim 2:3).

The difficulties believers encounter are always (regardless of the size) for the testing of our faith, and this is not a pass-fail test but is always a strengthening test from its teaching, like determining the purity of gold when tested (i.e. what gold tests out to be, by acid). We have already been passed, thus it is not as though we are on probation, to see what we will do, but it’s the lesson we learn in realizing our benefit from trusting God in the hardness. Of course, it should easily be understood how impractical this faith lesson would be if we don’t know the permanency of our union with God will never be disrupted; fellowship yes, but never unity.

There is the greatest comfort in knowing that everything results to our benefit, even when we know not what to think, feel, do or say. “For if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (this is matured faith – Rom 8:25). Regardless of your present maturity level, the outcome of the blessing is the same—but the strength of your faith has just again “increased” (Luke 17:5)!