When I am facing the unknown in my
future or facing significant choices and decisions, I look back and trace how
God has worked in my life in previous circumstances. I remember answered
prayer. I remember how He opened doors that I thought were closed to me. I
remember how He moved on my behalf and made things possible that looked
difficult to me.
David gives us this example when he takes up the challenge to battle Goliath. He knew God would be with him in the battle against Goliath because God had already been with him and delivered him from a lion and a bear. Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:37
In Exodus God repeatedly reminds the Israelites they can trust Him to take them through the wilderness and into the Promised Land because they had already seen what He did in Egypt with the plagues and what He did to deliver them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. Exodus 19:3-5
Abraham believed God would intervene somehow when God tested him and asked him to sacrifice Isaac, because he had seen God bless him and Sarah with a child when it was impossible for Sarah to conceive, and because of the promises God had already made to Abraham regarding making him the father of a great nation. Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. Genesis 22:13
We will find many examples among the men and women in our Bible who trusted God for great things because they had seen Him work mightily before, and we have the examples in our own lives as we recall the evidences of God at work in our various life circumstances over the passage of time.
The greatest strengthening factor for our faith is when God works in our lives in a way that grows our trust in Him, and then the next time we are challenged, we remember what He has already done.
David gives us this example when he takes up the challenge to battle Goliath. He knew God would be with him in the battle against Goliath because God had already been with him and delivered him from a lion and a bear. Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:37
In Exodus God repeatedly reminds the Israelites they can trust Him to take them through the wilderness and into the Promised Land because they had already seen what He did in Egypt with the plagues and what He did to deliver them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. Exodus 19:3-5
Abraham believed God would intervene somehow when God tested him and asked him to sacrifice Isaac, because he had seen God bless him and Sarah with a child when it was impossible for Sarah to conceive, and because of the promises God had already made to Abraham regarding making him the father of a great nation. Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. Genesis 22:13
We will find many examples among the men and women in our Bible who trusted God for great things because they had seen Him work mightily before, and we have the examples in our own lives as we recall the evidences of God at work in our various life circumstances over the passage of time.
The greatest strengthening factor for our faith is when God works in our lives in a way that grows our trust in Him, and then the next time we are challenged, we remember what He has already done.
If there is a challenge before you
right now—that looks unattainable and beyond
your ability to achieve, will you trace the path of what
God has already done in your life?
