Faith in Trial

We wait because He waited.

In fear and trial, faith is vital. Faith reminds us of God's promises. Promises to never leave or forsake us. The promise that He is with us to the very end of the age. The promise that He works all things for good.

In the book of Isaiah, we meet Ahaz the king of Judah. God's people were far from Him and facing invasion from both Israel and Ephraim. 

"...so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind." - Isaiah 7:2b

King Ahaz and his people were terrified. Two kingdoms had allied together in order to destroy Judah. They were preparing to invade the land, divide it among themselves and establish a new king. All seemed hopeless for Judah. But the Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to Ahaz. 

Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘It will not take place,  it will not happen, for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’” - Isaiah 7:7-9

The Lord told Ahaz to keep calm and not to be afraid. He told Him not to lose heart, even though they were being plotted against. And the Jews had to rely on these assurances. Why were they protected? Why did God intervene on their behalf and ease their fears? The same reason He does the same for us. They were his chosen people, His beloveds. He made promises to them, and even though they were far from Him, God intended to fulfill His promises.

As we prepare for Advent, let us remember that trial and fears work to tear us away from the Lord. Faith is vital. We wait for God in so many different ways. But we wait with patience because God is so patient with us. He carefully and patiently orchestrated history since the days of Adam, so that at just the right time, the Messiah would rise up from the tribe of Judah; the family of David, to be born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem. We don't need to be afraid when life rises up against us and we feel defeat is on the horizon. God intended not death, but Life, to come from Judah. And we live in light of that Life. The Light of the World. The coming Messiah.

Join me in waiting!