Our lives are basically composed of relationships. One of the vital things for a relationship to last is faith. Relationships go deeper when we trust each other, when we know that no matter what happens the other person will be true to what was said or promised. When faith crumbles, it breaks people.  Faith is the substance that keeps a relationship strong, yet it is also fragile that it needs to be handled with care.

Like human relationships, our relationship with God is just the same.

Our relationship with Him becomes stronger when we spend time with Him and completely trust in Him. Faith empowers us to trust God more than what we see in our present situation.

Needless to say, the Christian life is not a constant high. There are moments when what we pray for are answered, while there are some that are not. This is where our faith in God is tested.

This is what happened to the Israelites. They doubted God’s goodness and deliverance in spite of their first hand witness of the plagues on the Egyptians. They became terrified at seeing the Egyptians coming after them even when of God promised to lead them to a land filled with milk and honey.

Fear is a result of doubt: it comes because circumstances do not seem to lead to the fulfillment of God’s promises. Fear shrinks down our faith that we lose sight of how God loves us. Fear robs us of the ability to remember His goodness and faithfulness.

They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us here to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt. Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Exodus 14:11-12

Moses was confident that God is true to His promise, that He will rescue them and that they will enter the land He swore to them. So Moses assured the people, “Do not be afraid! Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 

Isn’t this story a great depiction of our own lives when God tells us to trust in Him even though it doesn’t make sense? The Israelites believed in God, just like we do today. Their response to their gripping fear was a lack of trust—just like us today. God knew from the start that they lacked faith in Him so He allowed them to be in a situation where they will see His goodness and love for them again.

God may not part seas today but He’s faithful to make a way for us. He allows difficulties in our lives so that we can remember His faithfulness and how worthy He is of our faithfulness too.

When the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant.
Exodus 14:31

 

Writer’s Bio:
Patrick Purugganan is an aspiring youth pastor and is very passionate for purity.