Dear friend,

We have been studying about faith, both in our Bible Study time and in our sermon messages. Faith is simply believing God, taking Him at His Word. And genuine faith will overcome any trial or problem, any time of testing, or any difficulty or storm. Even if you may not be going through a difficulty presently, take notice of how Paul’s faith got him through an extreme trial, for there may come a time in your life when you will need this as well. Notice the kind of faith Paul had. Here were his circumstances:

²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. Acts 27:20

They were in a raging storm out in the open seas. The situation looked bleak, the circumstances were very bad. So bad that they “gave up all hope of being saved.” How would you react in a storm this bad? And how do we react when going through stormy trials that are exceptionally intense? When our hope is gone, or our hearts are hurting badly. Here is where faith comes in, and this faith will get us through any storm, even ones that are very intense and severe. Notice Paul’s faith:

²⁵ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Acts 27:25

What a contrast! From “we finally gave up all hope of being saved” to “so keep up your courage men!” And what made the difference? “I have faith in God…” and more specifically, in His Word. “it will happen just as He told me.”

Weak faith is doing as Gideon did, and asking God for “confirming evidence” of what He says; a wet fleece or a dry fleece. Strong faith is believing God in the midst of extremely difficult circumstances, and taking Him at His Word no matter how bleak your circumstances or how bad you feel. So when you come upon a trial, run to God’s Word and find a promise to latch on to, and as you believe God’s Word you are strengthened greatly in the storm.

God has given us everything we need to make it through intense storms and fiery trials. It is His Word. And as we believe His Word, even in the face of circumstances that appear contrary, we gain the victory over them. Indeed, faith is the victory. ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4