Continuing in The Faith

What does a faith-based life really look like? Is it that picture perfect image of a Christian who is full of faith at all times, or is it a Christian who doubts yet continues seeking God anyway?

This article is the final within the series, “Minuscule Faith Moves Mountains.”

The process of continuing in the faith can vary a great deal depending on the individual challenges we face.

Maybe we are facing difficulty from wisdom of this world that seems to contradict the wisdom of God, causing us to question the faith. Maybe we are enduring some kind of ridicule or persecution for our faith. Maybe we become discouraged because of our sin and we feel too ashamed to approach God, question our salvation, or doubt his ability to help us overcome.

Whatever struggles with faith we endure, if we continue on we will find that our faith is made stronger.

Sometimes just holding on to belief that Jesus is the Son of God is all you have, and sometimes that is enough. However, once we come out of the difficulties, we should always push on and seek more from the faith. We have to continue in the faith. We have to grow, “from faith to faith.”

The struggles of faith is a difficult topic for me to write about, because the only experiences I know are my own. So, I think it is relevant and maybe helpful to conclude this series by sharing a little about my journey in the faith.

One Christian’s Journey From Faith to Faith

I don’t remember when I started believing in Jesus, because I was raised to believe in him. As with all believers, I believed that Jesus is the son of God. I believed that since I accepted that he died for my sins, I would go to heaven when I die instead of hell. I later found my faith greatly shaken, began to question Jesus, and considered Jesus as one of many truths out there. After nearly falling into dangerous New Age religion, I called out to God asking for Him to show me the truth.

He led me to a bible teacher, and this started a journey of seeking the Lord with more sincerity and insatiable hunger for him than I ever experienced. When I looked back on my faith before, it seemed so lacking, self-serving, and weak. I did not believe in Jesus for the right reasons, and I didn’t have any substantial idea about who he really was.

As I learned more about the gospel and what Jesus stands for, I began to have a better grip on the reality of God, the severity of my sin, and the amazing mercy and incredible power Jesus provides for those who believe in him and worship him out of a sincere heart. I also began to see my sin very clearly, and I hated it. I struggled to believe that God would save me. I felt inadequate and fell into a state of depression.

I again called out to God, and He sent me His Holy Spirit. Again, I looked back over my previous faith and saw it as lacking. I thought because I had the Spirit, I had arrived and would be perfect now. I soon discovered that I was not. I had also started writing this blog, because I wanted to help Christians come out of delusional Christian traditions that keep them bound to sin and the same faithless life I once lived.

God allowed me to go down some very confusing paths, and in the process, I learned a lot about legalism, patience, and mercy. I also learned that I have such a very long way to go, and that this Christian journey is often complex and I should not be so arrogant in the way I approach others who disagree with me.

Now, I don’t know what my next steps are or where faith will take me. I do know that whatever happens, it will work out for my good. I know that the Lord will continue to bring me through hard times in order to refine me and bring me up in his image. I know that I always have room to grow in understanding about God, the gospel, the purpose of creation, and most importantly, what it means to live a Christian life.

All of this has happened in the last four years, and it has been an amazing ride! I can honestly say that I am not the person I was a few short years ago, and I have so much hope in the future changes the Lord will work in me.

I know for a fact that the Lord does not despise a sinner who approaches him for healing, no matter how big the sin. I know for a fact that Jesus will humble us if we are too proud so that we can have a heart that is prepared to receive him. I know for a fact that if we seek the righteousness of the kingdom first, he will take care of our needs—especially those of the spirit as we are raised up in his image. I know that our faith is made strong in weakness and in trials, and we will look back on the hard times with thankfulness, and we will learn to trust God over time.

Continuing in the faith is what the Christian journey is about, and as we push onward and upward in the things of God, we find greater peace and soundness of mind and amazing freedom from the cares of this world that would kill, steal, and destroy our faith.

The Christian walk isn’t supposed to be easy. There are times of relief and we are offered comfort despite the difficulties, but the process of growing often means going through hard times. If we seek Jesus diligently to help us overcome sin, depending on where we are and our individual journey and sin struggles, we might go through some difficulties. After-all, tribulation works patience.

Encouraging Scriptures About Continuing in The Faith

If you’d like some scripture to read when feeling weak in the faith, here are some of my favorites. I’m only including some excerpts, so I strongly recommend reading the entire chapter (or book preferably) for context.

2 Peter 1 “Add to Your Faith”

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12 “Run the Race”

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Related Articles For Those Who Fear Losing Their Faith:

If you have questions like, “can I lose my salvation?” or worry over scripture that often cause unproductive fear, you might benefit from the third article series, “The Severity of Sin and the Mercy of Jesus” found here.

This article is the final article within the series, “Minuscule Faith Moves Mountains.” Click Here for the entire series. Questions and comments are welcome below. Consider sharing with others if this was helpful for you, and subscribe if you’d like email notifications of future publications.