Last Friday, the little one hurt his right leg while getting off a high chair. He limped for two days. It was painful to watch him go about his usual toddling in pain. He refused to be held down or rest his legs. The interesting thing is that he has not stopped trying to climb up the high chair. The little one doesn’t give up! It reminds me of the season he was learning to walk. He fell on his butt several times but he never gave up and that’s one reason he can walk.
The little one’s determination stirs up my faith and it points to what the life of faith is all about. There are times I pray and don’t get the result I want. I am sure you can relate. Yet, I don’t stop praying. Like the little one, I don’t stop climbing that high chair, raising my expectation and believing God for the impossible.
I have been hurt several times when I didn’t receive what I asked God for. I have had circumstances that made me say “this is too much for one person to deal with”, “why me?”, and “why did God let this happen?”. Still, I believe God answers prayers and the good news is that I can always look back and say “Thank God, it didn’t work out the way I wanted”.
The trials we face build up our faith. Now is not the time to give up. Like babies learning to walk and exploring the world, we were naturally made to keep believing and never give up.
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:3-4 (NKJV)
You can also check out Spurgeon’s sermon, The Trial of Your Faith. It’s a good one!