When FAITH seems to fail

"And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:"

Sometimes we pray for a loved one that is sick, and we ask God to heal them.  Sometimes that person we are praying for does not make it.  What happens when faith seems to fail. 

Hebrews 11 talks about the heroes of faith.  These people had supernatural victories.  But what about "the others" who were stoned, afflicted, and tormented?  Something must have been wrong.  They must of not had faith.  No friend, they had faith.  You see, real faith is not the ability to ask from God what you want and get it, but it is accepting what he gives and allows. 

What do we do when our faith seems to fail? 
1. Don't demand to understand.  We live by promises, and not by explanations. 
2. Don't fail to be faithful.  Don't quit serving God
3. Don't get bitter
4. Don't give up on your dreams
5. Rest on the promises of God

God's hidden treasure

Many years ago, the Spanish Armada was sailing off the coast of Florida when a hurricane struck.  Those ships, laden with millions of dollars in gold and silver ingots, went to the bottom of the ocean.  The treasure had been lost, but no one knew where the ships had gone down.

One day some divers dove down into the water and found millions of dollars worth of precious metal.  Finally after many efforts, the treasure was found.  Today, a great treasure awaits us--a full and glorious life in Christ.  If you sometimes feel like the fishermen who missed out on the treasure because they never contemplated what lay below, turn your eyes toward your heavenly Father and His Son who died for you.  As you look in His word and talk with Him, He'll give you discernment so that you can see beyond your earthly hindrances to the treasure of life with Him. 

Colossians 2:3
"In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Galations 2:20

"I am crucified with Christ: Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

The life of Joshua in the Old Testament is an illustration of Jesus.  As a matter of fact, Joshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus. 

The Lord Jesus is our heavenly Joshua who leads us into the land of promise and victory.  And what is this victory?  It is a victory of faith.  There is nothing more, nothing less that will achieve the victory in our lives, but faith.

Victory is not achieved by fighting.  Victory is received by faith.  You see, when God has a gigantic task He wants us to perform, He gives the contract to faith.  Your faith links your nothingness to God's almightiness and victory is yours for the taking!!

Ephesians 2:6

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Why is the empty tomb so glorious?  Because it signifies more than just the fact that God raised Jesus from the dead.  He raised you, too, to walk "in newness of life" (see Romans 6:4).

I have come out of that grave.  I have ascended.  You have, too, if you are saved.  Where is Christ today?  Seated in the heavenlies.  Where are you seated?  In the same place.  In Christ, you are seated in the heavenlies right now. 

You dear friend, have a brand new life!  Praise God.