Joy and Faith

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7

Our joy and our faith are two things that we can not afford to loose. I want to encourage you that no matter what is going on in or around you, let these be your strongholds. Refuse to give up your joy and your faith. The enemy knows that if he can steal these two things from you, then he has got you right where he wants you, out of alignment with God. It is through your trails that “will show that your faith is genuine.” If we are going through things and we throw our faith out of the window, then we need to spend sometime with our heart, because out of our hearts our mouth speaks, and the issues of life flow.

Remember it is our faith and our joy that keeps us on top of the water, when everyone else is trying to stay a float. It is what other’s that are struggling in the water will see. They will see us walking on top of the water, and they will desire for the same thing. When they reach out to us, that is when we pull them up (bring them into the Kingdom) so that they can walk with us. What happens if I as a believer am struggling in the water just as much as them? Can I help them if I can’t even help myself? Will they look to me as an example, or will they see me as a “hypocrite”? Remember people of God, the people of the world are watching you, so you can not afford to loose your faith or your joy, for them and for yourself. So be encouraged this morning saints of God for the Word says, “So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor.” Stand strong, I know you can! God bless!

Tracy Willey