When the Going Gets Tough...

“Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God’? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:27-31

“Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love! The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.” The words of John Fawcett’s familiar hymn blend beautifully with Paul’s hallmark works describing the intended and desired path of development for the Christian.

In part Paul says, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ....no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, ...but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him...even Christ.” Eph. 4:13-15

Does your life fit into this description? Are you on your way to developing those qualities? If so, then you should weather the storms caused by every wind of doctrines which comes “by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” Eph. 4:14. There is great safety and value in any fellowship of believers when they are “equipping...the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” Eph. 4:12.