G.K. Chesterton tells the story of a yachtsman who set sail from England, determined to reach an exotic South Sea island. After many stormy days at sea, he sighted land. Beaching his boat, he ventured inland to find a pagan temple before him. In the spirit of Indiana Jones, he was determined to claim it for England, so he scaled the walls and bravely planted the Union Jack at its pinnacle, only to discover that what he had scaled was the ornamental Brighton Pavilion on England’s south coast. He thought he had sailed in a straight line, but in the storm he had been blown off course and had actually gone in a circle without knowing it. As David Wells put it, "He imagined that he was the first in the land, but it turned out that he was the last."
We smile at the comedy of error, yet more than a few people I know launch out in the venture of faith, only to hit stormy waters and find themselves going the opposite direction of heaven’s shore. Such are the casualties of the faith. How do you keep yourself from being a fatality in the storms of life? The following are guidelines that will help you when you feel tempted to retreat.
Guideline #1: Learn about the nature and character of God. Faith rests upon the character of God. Faith comes by hearing, says Paul, and hearing comes from the Word of God (see Romans 10:17). What we know of God, we have gleaned from the Bible, a book that has been a map for pilgrims and travelers for centuries. The more you know of the character of God, the greater will be your faith.
Guideline #2: Realize that winds of testing only strengthen your faith when you remain faithful and steadfast. Some folks become Christians, anticipating that they will never, ever again face problems. They are the ones who get disappointed. Remember that God never promised to exempt you from storms, but to be with you and to take you through the storm.
Guideline #3: Rest in the assurance that God is still in charge no matter how hard the wind blows. The dog gets sick, your husband is out of town, the kids have to be taken to the doctor, the baby-sitter can’t come and the car won’t start. We have to admit that sometimes when the storm is raging, our hearts cry out, "God, why me?" But remember that the storm will pass, and God will be there to welcome you at the beginning of another day. He will never leave you in the lurch.
Guideline #4: Realize the walk of faith is one step at a time, one day at a time, one problem at a time. God’s will is like a flashlight in a dungeon: It doesn’t shine around corners but gives you just enough light for the next step.
Resource Reading: Philippians 1:12-30