A Lesson in Suffering: How Strong is My Faith

January 1 rolls around, and I begin my attempt to read through the Bible in a year. Starting in Matthew, it doesn’t take long to see how often Jesus commended the faith of those He touched and healed. Then I ask myself, would He commend my faith?

In Matthew 8:10, a centurion didn’t feel worthy for Jesus to come to his house to heal his servant. “Just say the word,” he said to the Lord, "and I know he will be healed.” Jesus commended his faith when he said to those around, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

In Matthew 9:2, Jesus sees the faith of those who brought their paralyzed friend and healed him. In verse twenty-two a woman who was diseased with a blood issue for twelve years touched the hem of his garment, believing she would be healed. Jesus said, “Be of good courage, your faith has made you whole.” And she was healed that very hour.

Two blind men followed Jesus and begged for His mercy. Again, it is their faith that He commends, saying to them, “According to your faith be it unto you.” Lastly, in chapter fifteen, the story is told of the Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon- possessed. She fell down and worshipped Him and begged for the Lord to help her. He answered her with these words: “Great is your faith.”

From a Roman centurion with great responsibility and authority, to a seemingly insignificant Gentile woman, and those in between, Jesus noticed and commended their faith. Jesus did not commend their position in life, nor did he mention their ability, nor their perseverance in seeking Him out. He didn’t mention any human attribute they may have felt would have gained His attention. He commended their faith. That was what was needed for them to see His work in their lives--personal trust and faith.

Then we read the story of the disciples in the storm (Matthew 8). Jesus’ very own faithful followers, when struck by fear of losing their lives, begin to doubt Jesus’ care for them. “Lord, save us. Don’t You care if we perish?” they asked.

How could they ask the loving Son of God - who came from Heaven to give His life for them - “don’t You care?” Do I ever ask in my heart (never out loud, of course) if Jesus really cares? Yes, when heartbreaking news came to us, how quick I was tempted to say, “Lord, do You see, do You care?”

How does Jesus answer His disciples? No commendation here for their great faith! Good thing He didn’t answer them as he did the blind men, “according to your faith, be it unto you.” They probably would have drowned in the sea! He answered His disciples in a way that is so different than the others He had helped. He said what I have often heard Him say in my heart, “Why are you so fearful, oh you of little faith!”

It seems the ones who had followed Him closely every day and had seen His many great works firsthand would have had the most faith! I have seen the Lord work in many wonderful ways in a lifetime of knowing Him. But when struck low by trial and sorrow, loss and heartache, how would the Lord describe my faith then? Would He say to me, “O woman of great faith, or “O you of little faith?” I’m afraid my faith is not always very commendable!

Trials come like a small ripple on a lake or a devastating tempest on the sea. It’s easy to say we have faith when the sea is calm, but when a giant storm hits, our personal faith is truly tested.

That storm for us this past year was the death of our firstborn son, drowned attempting to rescue his children. The sudden shock crumbled our hearts and those of our family in a million pieces. No one ever expects to lose an adult son, a loving husband, father, and brother. It’s not part of the plan we see for our lives.

Then a few months later came another storm, the sudden heart attack and near death of my husband. Once again, an unexpected event hit with pain and uncertainty. God’s plans are often not what we expect.

Jesus asks in those hard times, “Do you trust Me?” and I try to answer in my heart, “Yes, Lord, I trust You, but my faith is shaking. It is mixed with some fear and doubt and questions. Please help me to trust You more. Help me to hang on to Your promises and remember that You are God and in control of every storm!” Is that a cry of faith? Oh, yes, it is, even if only a weak and trembling faith. Like the man who brought his demon- possessed son to the Lord, we can cry, “I do believe, Lord, please help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Our faith will be tested, but it will never be destroyed when it is trusting in and leaning hard on God. Our emotions, nerves, and feelings may be terribly shaken, wondering how we can cope. But thank the Lord, our faith is not based on our feelings. Our faith is in our loving Father Who is forever faithful and in the storm with us.

What do you do in a storm? You hang on! You cry out for help! You cling to God and His absolute control in your life. You hang on to the promise that He has not given you “the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7). You grab hold of the hand that He has promised will hold you and strengthen and help you (Isaiah 41:10).

Would we ever check the level of our faith without the barometer of suffering in our lives? Suffering made me ask, “How strong is my faith? Does it bring glory to God?”

Even the great apostle Paul said we may feel hard pressed, perplexed, and struck down (II Cor. 4:8). The good news is that we are not destroyed! We are not utterly crushed, and we are not without hope. There is always hope with God! Praise the Lord! Where would be without hope in God?!

Clinging to His hand, I can keep putting one foot in front of the other. I can pray as Peter wrote, “Let the trial of my faith that is more precious than gold, though tested by fire, bring honor and glory to You.”

You also can cry out, when you find yourself in a devastating storm, “Lord, take my weakness and fear, and replace it with a stronger faith in You.” May Jesus be able to commend us, as He did those He touched on this earth. May my faith, and your faith, somehow, someday, be a help to others in their storms of life, that their faith may grow as well.