We often talk about having faith, strength, and commitment. We believe that no matter what comes along, our faith will remain strong and we will not break. We know that this strength comes from the Lord and we rely on Him to keep us when times are both good and bad. What happens, though, when things get really tough? What happens when you’re really under pressure? What happens when that faith is tested? What if there’s persecution? I can’t even imagine what we’d see in the church if we had the kind of persecution that Christians endure in places like China, Pakistan, and Vietnam. They regularly face the threat of imprisonment and death.
The other day, I had my bike in the shop. I had been dealing with creaking, squeaking, clicking, and other random oddities from the pedals and bearing. The repairman had replaced the bearing cylinder a week earlier, which eased much of the problems, but there was still something wrong. He next replaced the pedals. I turns out that there was a crack in one of them. Shortly after he fixed the bike the first time, I rode 41 miles with a group and everything was smooth. But we were riding at a slower pace than normal to accommodate a less-experienced rider. A couple of days later, when I was riding alone, I noticed the clicking from the cracked pedal. You see, I was putting more pressure on it than before and it wasn’t able to stand up to that. If I had put even more pressure on it, it probably would have snapped off and caused me to wreck. Oh, it had strength. It held up to mile after mile after mile that I was putting it through. But when there was added pressure…when the going got tough, that strength seemed to disappear and it all but broke apart. So I got new pedals. They are of better quality and will (should) hold up when under greater pressure.
Mar 9:23-24 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (24) And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Jud 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Col 1:9-13 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1Co 10:12-14 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (14) Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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