Believers Believe

Believers Believe

My righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away. Hebrews 10:38

IN EVERY VISION, PROJECT, OR VENTURE OF FAITH there comes a time when choices must be made and steps must be taken. Some of those choices are deeply internal, affecting our moods and expectations. Others are external, involving practical decisions that depend on the vision being true. Subtly, deeply, superficially, practically, mentally, and emotionally, we are constantly living according to what we really believe. The question is whether what we really believe involves faith in God’s words, promises, and purposes—or something else. If we feel hopeless, desperate, discouraged, or bitter, it’s almost certainly something else.

Unbelief focuses on the situation as it appears right now and all the negative directions it could turn in the future. Faith refuses to look at the way things appear right now (at least as a true reflection of reality) and insists on envisioning God’s goodness down the road. Unbelief sees a negative turn of events and worries or despairs. Faith looks at a negative turn of events and then looks to God for how he will do something awesome in it. Faith insists that it will turn out for the good of those who love him, that it will set up an opportunity for his kindness to be seen, that all the strategies of the enemy and the trials of the world will be turned to beauty, joy, and praise. The reality of these promises simply isn’t a question for the believer. A believer believes.

When we are told to guard our hearts as the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23, ESV), this is why. Your heart will sometimes lie to you. It will make you think you believe when you don’t. It will claim great faith while dragging you down in despair. It will weigh you down with discouraging thoughts even while you are praying for great victories. It will make you shrink back.

Don’t let it. Faith and discouragement can’t coexist. The focus of faith is hope—always. Live by it, walk by it, and never turn away. God will call your faith “righteous” and reward you for it. You are in a battle for your heart, and if you don’t give up, you will win.

Discouragement is to be resisted just like sin.