Unshakable Faith Comes From Having Our Faith Shaken

2nd Corinthians 1:8-10, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;”

The Apostle Paul said it was their faith in God that saw them through dire circumstances in Asia. Jesus said in Mark 11:22b, “Have faith in God.” If you have faith you can make it! Faith is like film, it develops in the dark. Unshakable faith comes from having our faith shaken! So often it is not our actions that destroy us, but our reactions to life's situations. God wants every believer to adopt the following Scriptural mindset toward life's troubles, trials and tribulations, viewing them as tests which ultimately strengthen our faith in God:

1st Peter 1:7-9, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

Carefully notice that the entire basis for our faith being shaken (tested) is Jesus Christ. We have never visibly seen the Lord Jesus Christ, yet we love and trust Him! In 2nd Corinthians 1:8-10 the Apostle Paul said it was their faith in God, Who raised up Jesus from the dead, that saw them through! Boy I love that! This is how we ought to approach our burdens, problems, afflictions, losses, heartaches and all the miseries that this life can throw at us—as being necessary for our spiritual growth, to conform us into Christ's glorious image (Romans 8:28-29). James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Many Christians complain about their afflictions, some becoming bitter and angry over their less than ideal circumstances. But the inspired Word of God teaches us to count it all joy, knowing that unshakable faith comes from having our faith shaken!

A Christian man I knew (in his late 30's) commit suicide in the 1980's when his fiancée abandoned him for another man, whom she married; and he was also deep in financial debt as well. Folks, there is nothing in this world that ought to shake our faith so much that it warrants taking our own life. As long as Jesus is alive, we are on the winning side through faith in Him! 1st John 5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Our  Savior lives!!!

Hey all you disgruntled Christian people, I have awesome news for you from 1st John 4:4, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Throughout my life I have been persecuted for my Christian faith in the secular workplace (2nd Timothy 3:12). I was a conservative Christian working in Sodom and Gomorrah (which is typical of the American secular workplace today). With the new LGBTQ laws protecting homosexuals, Christians are working in ungodly cesspools of iniquity. 

To help me cope with the adverse conditions at work years ago, I wrote the following helpful Scripture on my toolbox. John 16:22, “ And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” I love that Bible verse! As God's children we have sorrow in this sin-cursed world. Ah, but our sorrow is only temporal. More times than I can remember throughout my life, people have taken away my joy, but the Lord promises that in the future it will never happen again. We won't be persecuted for our faith in eternity, we will be rewarded and honored for it. We won't have to encourage ourselves anymore, because when we see Jesus He will make all things good.

Nobody likes to suffer. I sure don't. But I know that suffering is a necessary part of God's will for my life as a redeemed child of God. I am so very thankful for the inspired King James Bible. Can you imagine what life would have been like, if God didn't give us His Word to explain why we suffer? That is a horrifying thought! But our good God did give us the Holy Bible, explaining why we are allowed to suffer. Sin is the cause of all suffering (Romans 6:23). Suffering is not necessarily the consequence of any particular sin we committed, but simply because the human race is fallen since Adam sinned, who opened the floodgate of sin and death upon the world (Romans 5:12).

So rejoice oh suffering saint, knowing that your suffering, pain, afflictions, losses and burdens are all ordained of God. That doesn't mean God caused the suffering, but that He allows it. That is why billions of people hate God, knowing that He could stop all the suffering, but He doesn't. I don't claim to understand it all, but I do know that God is a good God. Psalms 145:9, “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” God is fair and just. 1st John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God is faithful. 1st Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus is precious!

Count it all joy dear saint for the suffering in your life, because now you know from the inspired Holy Scriptures that God intended for us to suffer, that we may grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, being conformed into His image. We don't have to be thankful “FOR” every thing, but we should be thankful to God “IN” every thing. 1st Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”