Long story short: Let us dare to endure hard times with bold faith. Borrow this simple phrase borrowed from A.W. Tozer, “God or total collapse,” to remind yourself that God has never failed a person who trusted him. We need not fear or fret when the days are hard, because we know this is yet another opportunity to take God at his word.
My definition of “good” is in a state of renewal.
What used to describe a picture of perfection or simplicity now gives breath to something more complex. I’m beginning to see the labors of leveling and rebuilding, though painful and unfinished and messy, are claiming the word “good” in my heart.
That’s not to say it’s easy. But it is to cling to a grander hope of a more glorious future day, and that feels very good.
I think of the several-years journey of our church seeking a long-term home. We couldn’t predict the outcome, only that we could trust God with it.
In that season, we stood with our gaze up at both the task ahead and the God who was helping us. We felt like David up against Goliath as we metabolized the fast-approaching string of deadlines. The large price tag of a historic real estate situated in a booming city brought no comfort, but the promise of God’s care and the joy of anticipating his provision comforted us in every gathering.
As a church community, we borrowed a phrase from A.W. Tozer, “God or total collapse.” In His grace, we saw God allowing us the privilege to live in such a monumental season. We appeared smaller and weaker than ever, but the strength of Christ upheld us. He granted us the gift of a ground-zero moment so that we could rebuild from the foundation up.
And in acknowledging that without God we would utterly collapse, we found the endurance for this hard moment in faith.
Sometimes God brings you low so that you can forge a new path in courage. It’s one that you wouldn’t have chosen if allowed to stay in your comfort zone. Up against the fleeting worries and insecurities of this world, this new path allows the opportunity to pray audacious prayers and walk in bold faith that God can be trusted.
When I get right up to the glass, I see that Lord has been so kind to allow our family’s need to mirror the church’s need. In a miraculous season of casting vision to the tenth generation and then trusting God to come through for us with our church body, we have learned to trust the promises of God for our family in a bold way too.
Standing on the brink of collapse isn’t bettered by fear or fretting; only faith. Enduring hard times with bold faith is a gift that God stands ready to give. You in?