Faith

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For the first time in almost 15 years I find myself without full time work. A year ago the company I worked for had to relieve me of my duties due to the economic crisis. Today I find my self without work in a era when 1,000s of people are lining up for 100 positions. I'm basically in competition with CEO’s, presidents, and other higher qualified individuals.

My first attempt to find a job via the internet was very discouraging. I scrolled through each job post until I found something that lined up with my experience. Once I found something interesting I’d read the job description and be saddened because the job only paid $10 to $12 and hour. Doh!

Then I’d see other jobs that paid more but the minimum requirements were frightening. The jobs that paid more required that you have a certificate in all these scary abbreviations. I had no idea what ACT; CSI; CAT; DOG; and BUG meant. It was way too confusing for me.

To ease my worries I called my buddy Eric for some advice. This is what he told me, “Looking for a job after all these years is like breaking up with the girl you’ve been with for over 15 years and all of sudden you have to start dating again. You're not sure weather to take her to a movie or dinner, buy her flowers, or hold her hand on the first date.” It was pretty funny.

The first few days I was good. I was walking by faith that if God closed one door, he would open up a bigger, better door for me. "God will provide", I told myself. But I’m human; doubt and fear still popped up in my head. One day with my head hanging low I said to God, “I know you’re there, I’m getting a little scared over here, help me please!”

Within a few minutes I turned on the T.V. and before the picture showed up, I heard the word DOUBT! I was taken aback. How did Jesse Duplantis know that I was thinking about doubt? His message was about stopping the devil’s words from taking root in our heart. You see if a thought comes to us, it first enters the mind then if allowed it enters and plants itself into the heart.

That’s why we must “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor 10:5). We need to take the word doubt and rebuke it before it can take root into our heart. We need to speak the Word of God saying, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Tim
1:7)

From that trial in my life I learned that a man needs to be tested in order to grow stronger in his faith. The Bible verified it in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “So be truly glad. There is a wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trails, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

If you are struggling in your faith walk remember when there is a drought a tree will dig its roots deeper into the ground to find water, which makes its foundation stronger. So you too must dig deeper to strengthen your foundation of faith.

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