Rev. Ron Schermerhorn

Faith through the battle. “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must 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,” 1 Peter 1:6-7.

The endless parade of news. Every day, 24 hours a day. COVID-19.

Will it ever end? I think most of us understand that this situation we have in our country and in the world is going to end.

We can see that it cannot last forever.

But it sure feels that way, doesn't it?

God wants to encourage us through these bizarre days. He tells us in the passage above that He is working through the trouble to strengthen our faith.

Increased faith doesn't come when all is right in the world, and we are flying high in success in our lives.

Faith is developed in the trenches.

Faith is strengthened when we are in the midst of a battle or a challenging time in our lives.

Imagine what faith would be if we only had no problems in our lives or in the world.

Faith would not be necessary.

We would have little use for faith when nothing ever went wrong. It's in the struggle that we find our faith and trust in God. Walking through a fire causes us to place our hope in God. It is in the mess that we see God's hand at work.

When we cling to Him in the battle, He supplies the strength we need to get through it.

Are you afraid for the future? Do you have a difficult time seeing the end of this unprecedented time in our nation's history?

I believe that God can and will supply to us the help that we need to see this through.

If we trust in Him, I am confident that His love and grace will lift us up as a nation.

If we turn to Him, He will answer.

The Scriptures are a source of hope and strength for all of us during this challenging time. The Psalms give us wonderful words of encouragement and hope.

Read what King David had to say about fear in the following verses: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what He has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?” Psalm 56:3-4.

Fear is common. Most all of us are experiencing it to one degree or another.

The fact that we are afraid doesn't indicate that we lack faith. But, in the struggle, focus on faith and not on fear. God is in the middle of the fight. He knows our frustrations. He understands just how frustrated we are.

Keep your head through all of this and focus on your faith. Expand your faith by serving others.

The Rev. Ron Schermerhorn is the pastor of Mt. Chestnut Presbyterian Church.