Fight of Faith

For a brief four weeks, whether most of the world gets it or not, our focus is redirected – to an event a little over 2000 years ago. I was thinking of Mary in those last couple weeks of pregnancy. Not in the comfort of a home, not getting the baby’s room ready, but on an arduous journey to a place she’d likely not travelled to before. Wondering: ‘will we make it back home in time; what will happen if he comes while on the road; is this really God’s Messiah I’m carrying’?

Yes, I think she probably wondered that. She was human like us. Her baby was God in flesh, but she was flesh. And with all those around her doubting, whispering, and shunning – yes, she had moments of doubt.

Knowing this helps us, doesn’t it? After an angel encounter and knowing she had not been with a man, still doubt could creep in – this means when you and I have our doubts amid the trial, remember we’re created by the same Creator who fashioned Mary for His good purpose.

While I can’t pretend to know or comprehend how difficult or easy it was for Mary to trust and live those nine months (and the next thirty-three years), I know it stretched her. He’s stretching me right now, how about you?

Sometimes I’m in a fight of faith. Nothing to do with believing in God, knowing Jesus as Savior – those are a firm foundation. It’s a fight to believe that I will make it through. That it all is for good (because I love Him). I have to fight because the enemy loves to plant seeds of doubt, whisper about me to those who’ll listen, and causes me to feel shunned.

It’s been this way since the garden. The devil and his cohorts have been casting their evil shadows of fear and worry as long as man has walked this earth. And in 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul reminds us of how the enemy is at work and will be – but will be overcome once and for all. In verses 16-17 Paul strengthens our faith with this: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

That’s the beauty of the Bible. God’s Word made flesh that dwelt among us for a while (John 1:1-14 NIV) is on every page of the Bible. We will find Christmas and hush doubt when we make room for the Word. May you find the tidings of comfort and joy in its pages and remember our encouragement is eternal, our hope is good, and He is strengthening us through the battles.