When life gets hard, when trials get tough – persevere and keep the faith, like the Apostle Paul did.
Joni's newest book "Keeping Faith When Life Hurts" is out now! Order it here
SHAUNA: I’m Shauna with Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Thank you for joining us.
JONI: As I grow older in Christ, as I put more Christian experience behind me, I am noticing that even if I learn more about Jesus, or am more sensitive to sin, or I’m growing in character – none of these great things make life easier. The Christian life is still a battle. Every morning, you’ve got to put on the armor of God. No matter how mature in Christ you think you are [and take it from me, I know] that every day we need our shield of faith and we need the sword of the Spirit. Just because you’ve grown in Christ and are being changed into the likeness of Jesus, you are still in an ongoing war against some of the darkest forces in the universe. And your adversary is relentless. So just know that when you got up this morning [and when I got up and sat in my wheelchair], both of us ventured onto a cosmic battlefield.
But here’s the thing. Here’s what I’m seeing. These days, I observe that Christians are growing weary of that. They’re getting tired of it all. People are allowing their faith to grow cold. They’re stumbling under heavy trials, crumbling, collapsing under the weight of weariness. And it is revealing their true spiritual condition. And it’s why right now keeping faith is so important when the world seems to be in nightmarish chaos especially. I mean, don’t you sense that? The Lord Jesus was sure aware of all this when he warned in Matthew 10:23; that [right before His return] His disciples – that’s us – that we’d face enormous trials and persecution. Things would get so bad that the love of most would grow cold. Many would turn away from the faith and betray each other, hate each other. And don’t you see that happening? I mean, Christians cannot even discuss politics without turning on each other [and ending friendships, leaving their small groups].
So, I’m sending out an appeal. Please, my Christian friends, keep the faith. Remain steadfast, be loyal, stay hope-filled and trusting in God – especially during these trying days. Persevere and pursue your love for Jesus. Anchor yourself in Him. Show a little resilience when life hurts. Keeping faith in the midst of spiritual battles demonstrates to the world – even the unseen world – what you genuinely think of Jesus Christ. How much you value him. How precious you think His cross is. Sure, the devil may be relentless; but greater is the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you than he who is in the world. Getting up every morning and putting on the armor of God, fighting temptation and persevering through trials – that is genuine proof of your salvation. It shows you think that your Savior is worth it.
Yep, all this has really been on my heart lately. And I just finished writing a book that I’ve called “Keeping Faith When Life Hurts.” And I wrote it because I want to help Christians hold fast to their convictions when life is hard, when trials get tough. I want believers to persevere and keep the faith, like the Apostle Paul did. I want you, listening friends to press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you. In short, I’d just like to help you keep faith when life hurts.
SHAUNA: Well, Joni no wonder you named your book “Keeping Faith When Life Hurts.” So, friend, for more details just visit joniradio.org. Thanks for listening today on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope.