From Weakness To Strength

From Weakness to Strength

They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Hebrews 11:33-34

DANIEL SURVIVED A LION’S DEN BY FAITH. His friends survived a furnace by faith. The Israelites brought down the walls of Jericho by faith. Gideon put armies to flight by faith, Jehoshaphat set armies against each other by faith, and Elisha relied on vast heavenly armies by faith. The examples of what faith has accomplished—not only in Scripture but throughout history as God’s people have turned to him in trust—could go on and on. It would take forever to recount them all. Fortunately, we’ll have forever to celebrate them.

Meanwhile, many of God’s children today feel stuck in circumstances, victimized by their trials, bound by addictions and habits, and limited by the weight of debt, sickness, or decisions of other people. There is glory just beyond the veil of their sight, but they haven’t yet learned how to access it. God has given promises that address virtually every situation they can encounter, but many of them seem beyond their grasp. It’s true that God gives us the faith to only endure at times, but eventually he gives us the faith to break through into a new season. The problem is that when we’ve experienced enough setbacks, we cease to believe in the breakthroughs. We forget that God is not defined or limited by our past, temporary experiences.

God was behind all of those great events mentioned in the book of Hebrews and experienced by his people throughout history, of course. But faith is what set the stage for his intervention in all of them. We don’t know what he would have done in the lives of Daniel, his friends, Gideon, Jehoshaphat, or any number of other people if they hadn’t believed, but we do know they are commended for their faith, and God’s response is tied to it. That ought to encourage us to believe, seek greater and purer faith, rest in God’s faithfulness, and patiently persist in our prayers. Great things happen when God’s people believe. Weakness is turned to strength, and strength breaks through in our lives.

What can be hoped for which is not believed?