Do you ever feel like your faith is so tiny, so weak, that you wonder if it’s even enough to sustain you?  Or if your tiny faith is in any way pleasing to God?  Why is it that in those times of trials or suffering, when we need our faith the most, that it seems the weakest?  I know it’s been like that for me.  And, then, I question my faith or berate myself for not standing strong and trusting God with my seemingly impossible situation.  Instead, I’ll rely on my own strength.  I’ll try to control or manipulate the situation to create the outcome that I want or, at least, the outcome I think is the right one.  When I do this, I am not operating out of faith. Rather, I’m operating out of fear.  More times than I care to count, my first reaction in a difficult situation is one of fear and worry.  I think, “Oh no! What am I going to do? Or, if it’s a loved one, what are they going to do?  On the flip side of this, when I’m operating out of faith my response is, “Lord, help me.  We need you in this situation.  Please do a work in my life or my loved one’s life.  Show us your will. Give us your Holy Spirit and fill us with your wisdom.  Do a mighty work in our lives.”  Where faith is, there is no fear and where fear is, there is no faith.  In faith, we remember that God is sovereign. He will work out all things for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)   We remember that, though our situation seems impossible, with God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26   We remember that if we have even the tiniest bit of faith, as small as a mustard seed, that it can grow into the greatest among herbs so that the birds of the air can lodge in its branches.  Our faith, no matter how weak or tiny has the ability to grow strong.  We must plant it, tend to it and exercise it in order to help it grow.  Just like our muscles, if we neglect our faith, it will atrophy and become useless.  So, how do we grow and strengthen this faith? 

Trials and tribulations are the opportunities we are given to strengthen our faith.  When everything is right in our world, our faith doesn’t get much exercise.  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence things not seen. Hebrews 11:1   Faith is not required when we can see.  When we get to Heaven, there will be no need of faith because we will see God as He sees us.  We will no longer be looking through a glass darkly, but we will see Him face to face.  Our faith is what enables us to “see” Him now and to feel his presence in our lives.  I don’t ever think, “I wish I had more trials and hardships in my life so that I can increase my faith.”  I don’t think anyone thinks this way at all!  However, James says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.  Knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience, but let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”  He tells us to count it as joy when we face trials!  In trials we must exercise our faith and it’s through these very trials that we can increase our patience which leads to being complete (entire) and content (wanting nothing).  We’re also reminded in 1 Peter 4:12 to not be surprised when trials come.  We are actually told to expect them.  Jesus tells us that in this world we will have tribulations.  However, He doesn’t leave us there.  He tells us to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world! He will not leave us defenseless and without hope. John 16:33

When we are feeling weak in our faith, we must remember that His grace is sufficient for us.  As a matter of fact, it is in our very weakness that His strength is made perfect, or is complete! 2 Corinthians 12:9 How good our Heavenly Father is to us! 

If we are His and we abide in Him, He will always make a way where it seems there is no way.  1 Corinthians 10:13 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19.   What a wonderful promise!  As God’s children, He promises to deliver us.  I pray that the next time you feel fear rising up, you will remember this verse, remind yourself that fear has no place and let your faith rise up instead, no matter how small or weak it may seem.  Use that faith to push out the fear.  Turn to Jesus.  Ask Him for help, wisdom and guidance.  He will meet you where you are and He will never forsake His own.  Psalm 94:14