How Do I Get Unshakable Faith?

by | Sep 12, 2017 | Battles, Faith | 28 comments

Sometimes we think…

When this hurricane passes—then I’ll rest in God.

When I’m out of debt—then I’ll trust Him.

When I have more knowledge and experience—then I’ll live my faith.

Of course, we know when/then faith is not faith at all. Putting conditions on trusting God keeps us in turmoil. It deprives us of the peace and joy that come from experiencing God—and it’s disobedient.

Waiting for an Experience?

Does the parting of the Red Sea count as a faith-building experience? Israel stood hemmed in between Pharaoh’s approaching army and the Red Sea. Had God brought these unarmed slaves out of Egypt to destroy them?

The angel of God, who’d been going before them, moved behind them. The pillar of cloud also circled behind them and stood between Israel and Pharaoh’s chariots. A strong east wind whipped through their camp and created a dry path right through the middle of the sea. Israel padded across in between heaped walls of water.

Israel emerged on the other side and turned to look back. Cold fear zipped down their spines. Pharaoh’s chariots feverishly pursued them using the path God had created through the sea!

Israel watched the chariots reach the middle and stall. The dry land seemed to have turned into flypaper. As the chariots struggled to get free, the walls of water clapped together over Israel’s enemy. Israel was free.

Would such an experience boost your faith? Yet, Israel, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, shrank back when God told them to enter the Promised Land. They compared themselves with their enemy and felt like grasshoppers. They should have compared their enemy with God.

In contrast to Israel, Rahab only heard about God parting the Red Sea. Instead of God promising her people a land flowing with milk and honey, God promised to overthrow them.

Who had more reason to trust God? Israel or Rahab? Yet, with little knowledge and no experience, Rahab put everything she knew into action.

 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:25-26 NIV).

Rahab hid the two Hebrews and asked them to spare her family’s lives. They agreed under the condition she stayed put in her house. The spies didn’t know God planned to crumble the wall Rahab’s house was built into.

Rahab obeyed and stood on God’s promise—

                        Even when her house shook and dust stung her eyes…

                                    Even when screams pierced her ears and her family wanted to bolt.

God saved Rahab, her relatives, and all she had. Four New Testament books remember her. Two hold her up as an example of faith.

Hundreds of thousands of fighting-aged adults crossed the Red Sea, but only Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land. More knowledge and more experience don’t make great faith. Israel focused on the size of their problem and died in the wilderness. Rahab focused on the size of God and became part of God’s people and Christ’s genealogy.

Are hurricanes, illnesses, or human errors bigger than your God? The crashing of Jericho’s walls felt like Rahab’s destruction, but they signaled her deliverance.

Will you choose to focus on the size of your God instead of the size of your problem? Click To Tweet

Click here to comment.

To receive our weekly blogs by email, subscribe here.

Blessings,

Debbie Wilson

Debbie W. Wilson

 

Resources

Learn more about Rahab and unshakable faith with Little Women, Big God.

 

Storm Photo by NASA on Unsplash

 

Sometimes I link up with these great sites:

#Wedded Wednesday, #Writer’s Wednesday #HeartEncouragement, #LivefreeThursday#Grace and Truth, #Dance with Jesus,  #Fresh Market Friday,

More From This Category

Are You Focused on the Right Issue?

Are You Focused on the Right Issue?

Where are these worms coming from? A few years ago, dead worms littered our basement floor. We put new weather-stripping on the French door and resealed the windows—to no avail. Sometime later I noticed the ceramic tiles between the tub and toilet lifting off the...

read more
Do You Expect Life to Be Fair? Plus Giveaway!

Do You Expect Life to Be Fair? Plus Giveaway!

Don't miss today's HUGE giveaway below! "Life isn’t fair or just or kind, so we shouldn’t be surprised by injustice, suffering, or pain (Eccles. 8:14).” Steven James, Flirting with the Forbidden The holidays rush in with expectations of how our house should look,...

read more

28 Comments

28 Comments

  1. Ann Musico

    Very timely with the hurricanes and issues with N. Korea – that question is one we all need to not only ask ourselves but settle once and for all: Do we focus on the size of our God or the size of our problem? Wonderful post, Debbie, as always.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Thank you, Ann. You’re so right we settle it once and for all and renew it every day!

  2. Pam Ecrement

    So right on time with this post, Debbie! I love when you march through scripture and point out the many evidences of God’s faithfulness. I sometimes wonder if the challenge mankind has with faith sometimes relates to the doubt that was seemingly sewn into our DNA at the fall in Eden. Doubt is the enemy of faith and yet Satan’s most potent enemy. Perhaps that is why it can haunt us. Thanks for consistent pointing back to God’s Word.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Pam, you said it well, doubts have been out downfall since the beginning! Thanks for adding your thoughts.

  3. Marilyn Couch

    So good, Debbie! We fix our eyes on Jesus. He, Himself, is our Peace. The minute I look
    away & focus on me & circumstances, I feel
    overwhelmed. But the minute I
    return to Him, He calms my mind & heart & reassures me that He’s got this. What a Savior!

    • Debbie Wilson

      Isn’t it the truth, Marilyn. What we focus on changes everything. Blessings to you and Doug!

  4. Brenda Flowers

    Yes, I choose to focus on my God. Thank you, Lord, for delivering us from our enemy. I stand together with you, Debbie, knowing our God is mighty to save.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Let’s encourage each other, Brenda!

  5. Lucille Ragan Vuncannon

    Great message for these turbulent times! Thank you, Debbie

    • Debbie Wilson

      Thank you, Lucille!

    • Debbie Wilson

      Well said, Andrew! Blessings to you.

  6. Michele Morin

    Thanks for this great re-telling of Rahab’s story!

    • Debbie Wilson

      Thank you, Michele!

  7. Brittany

    This is awesome! Just another reminder in all that is going on in my madness to hold on to God’s hand. He’s got me with or without me being able to see Him work.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Yes! Brittany, don’t you love the Bible stories that show God’s hand to us that was hidden at the time from them.

  8. Beth

    You raise thought-provoking questions today, Debbie (not that you don’t every time I visit!). I just want to ponder the way that these remarkable people stood firm in their faith while others faltered. It’s an important focus to grapple with, especially since I’m flagging in my faith in a certain area. You’ve encouraged me, my friend!

    • Debbie Wilson

      Beth, it is remarkable. May God grant us the grace to follow Rahab, Joshua, and Celeb’s example. Blessing to you!

  9. Susan Mead

    Powerful truths Debbie!

    Big God
    The rest of the story is dependent upon us believing He is bigger than anything we face, isn’t it?!

    Neighbor at Suzie Eller’s today.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Yes, Susan. How sobering to think what lack of faith can keep us from.

  10. Valerie Murray

    “Physical senses are unreliable indicators of spiritual reality.” I love this truth. How quickly we can forget how big God is in comparison to our problems. Thank you so much for the renewed perspective.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Valerie, it is staggering how quickly we forget. Thanks so much.

  11. Miriam

    What wonderful insight on the life of Rahab. I am truly challenged and reminded that faith in God is a decision. Thank you for sharing.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Thank you, Miriam. Rahab is a real inspiration to me!

  12. Timberley @ Living Our Priorities

    Oh my I have never heard when/ then faith is not faith at all. I love how you worded that. I tend to truly embrace the trials because it is only then that we find out what we believe. There is no way to test our faith without a test or trial. Great post. Stopping by from Grace and Truth link up.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Timberley, I like how you pointed out, “There is no way to test our faith without a test or trial.” Thanks so much.

  13. Rachel Britton

    We need to focus on the size of God not the size of our problems. I have been learning and leaning on that these past few weeks. He is big enough to handle the storms we face.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Yes, Rachel! If He is for us who can be against us!

Refreshing Faith Blog

Pin It on Pinterest