UNWAVERING FAITH

 

UNWAVERING FAITH

Unwavering Faith: Trusting Beyond Sight

Unwavering faith is like a sturdy bridge that spans the chasm between our hopes and reality. It’s not merely belief; it’s an unshakeable trust in something greater than ourselves. In the Christian journey, this faith transcends feelings or fleeting hopes—it’s a firm conviction rooted in the promises of God.

What Is Unwavering Faith?

Unwavering faith is certain about what God has promised in His Word, even before we see the outcome. It’s faith without doubt, unwavering like an anchor in a stormy sea. The book of James warns against wavering: “But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6-8 CSB).

Imagine a stick floating in water, uncertain of its direction—sometimes moving forward, then backward. Our faith shouldn’t waver like that stick. Instead, it should stand firm, anchored in God’s promises.

Why Is Unwavering Faith Important?

1. Receiving from God: Unwavering faith receives from God. It’s the unwavering confession of our hope based on what God has said. We hold on to His promises without wavering, knowing that He is faithful (Hebrews 10:23 CSB).

2. Confession Matters: Our confession shapes our reality. When we declare God’s promises—whether for healing, provision, or strength—we align ourselves with His truth. It’s not about how we feel; it’s about what God has declared.

   • Need healing? Confess: “I am healed by the stripes of Jesus.”
   • Need provision? Declare: “My God supplies all my needs.”
   • Need strength? Affirm: “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

Unwavering faith isn’t blind optimism; it’s rooted in God’s character and promises. So, let’s hold fast, knowing that He who promised is faithful¹. Our unwavering faith bridges the gap between what we hope for and what we cannot yet see.

This faith is steadfast, immovable trust in God, regardless of circumstances or challenges. It is characterized by an unshakeable belief in God's promises, His character, and His sovereignty, often demonstrated through obedience, trust, and perseverance even in the face of adversity.

Let us look on what the Scripture says:

1. James 1:6-8:

   • "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

2. Hebrews 11:1:

   • "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

3. Hebrews 11:6:

   • "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

4. Romans 4:20-21:

   • "No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised."

5. Mark 11:23:

   • "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him."

6. Proverbs 3:5-6:

   • "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

7. Psalm 125:1:

   • "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever."

8. Isaiah 26:3-4:

• "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

QUALITIES OF UNWAVERING FAITH

1. Trust in God's Promises: This involves believing in God's promises without doubting. An example can be seen in Abraham, who trusted God's promise of a son despite his and Sarah's old age.

    Genesis 15:6 - "And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness."

2. Persistence in Prayer: It involves persistently praying and trusting in God's timing and will.  Daniel continued to pray faithfully despite the decree against it.

   Daniel 6:10 - "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously."

3. Courage in Adversity: It involves displaying courage and confidence in God during difficult times. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God's deliverance from the fiery furnace.

   Daniel 3:17-18 - "If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

4. Obedience to God's Word: It involves obeying God's commands faithfully. Noah obeyed God's command to build the ark.

   Genesis 6:22 - "Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him."

5. Hope in God's Provision: It involves trusting that God will provide, even in challenging circumstances. Elijah trusted God to provide food during the drought.

   1 Kings 17:6 - "And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook."

6. Steadfastness in Trials: It involves remaining steadfast and unwavering in faith during trials. Job  remained faithful to God despite losing everything.

   Job 1:21 - "And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'"

7. Faithfulness in Witnessing: It involves being a faithful witness and testimony of God's work. Paul continued to preach the gospel despite persecution.

   Acts 20:24 - "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

These qualities of unwavering faith are exemplified throughout the Bible, showing how individuals trusted God in various circumstances, ultimately relying on His faithfulness and power.

A Free verse Poem

In the quiet of the dawn, when the world still slumbers, 

I find solace in the delicate dance of light and shadow. 

The sun, a golden promise, rises above the horizon, 

casting its warm embrace upon the earth. 

It is here, in this gentle moment, that faith blooms.

Faith, like a fragile blossom, unfurls its petals within us. 

It is not loud or boastful; rather, it whispers softly, urging us to believe in the unseen, the intangible. 

It is the unwavering trust that anchors our souls, 

even when storms rage and doubts assail.

I see faith in the dew-kissed leaves, trembling yet resolute. 

They know that the sun will return, that life will surge forth once more. 

And so, they cling to their branches, steadfast in their conviction.

In the quiet of the dawn, I too find my faith. It is not in grand gestures or lofty proclamations. 

Instead, it resides in the ordinary: the first sip of morning tea, 

the touch of a loved one’s hand, the whispered prayers that rise like incense.

Faith is the bridge between what is and what could be. 

It spans the chasm of uncertainty, connecting us to hope, to possibility. 

It is the compass that guides us through the labyrinth of existence, 

pointing toward a distant, shimmering truth.

So let us hold onto our faith, dear friend. Let it be our lantern in the darkest nights, our refuge in the tempests. 

For in its quiet strength lies the promise of a new day, a fresh beginning. 

And as the sun rises once more, we shall rise with it, unwavering and full of grace.

By Rev Dr Rolando E Santiago DD, DPM, ThD
President- EaglesNest Christian Academy and School of Theology