LOOKING FOR BETTER DAYS:
FAITH’S CHALLENGE

Ever feel like the little Dutch boy? You plug one hole in the dike with your finger and two more appear? A torrent of troubles pours down under ominous clouds, hanging like a funeral shroud over you? Been there—done that.

Welcome to reality. Recently I have been inundated with such a flood of problems, I just wanted to throw up my hands instead of plugging holes with my fingers! This is the messy business of ministry. Sin creates problems and the church is planted right in the middle of a sewer of trouble. It is impossible to live in such an environment and not step in something—and it gets tracked onto the church carpet!

Every week the spiritual custodial staff—church leadership—has to clean and clean and clean. Thankfully, the cleansing Agent is sufficient to remove the foulest stain! Christ never tires of cleansing sin. We, who apply the truth that blots out the stain, however, sometimes grow, “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9). If that were not a possibility, Paul would not have warned us to guard against it!

So, what will sustain us? How can we face the challenges of life and rise above them? Faith will give us eagle’s wings and enable us to see our trials from a higher perspective! When faith is challenged by the downward drag of life’s burdens, it spreads its wings and soars (see Isaiah 40:31).

If we walk by sight and live according to circumstances, we will be crushed by the burdens of life. But, if we live by faith, we will take the long view of eternity and testify with Paul,

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the
revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but
because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
(Romans 8:18-21)

Faith tested and triumphant!