Keep the Faith
Open Your Bible
2 Timothy 4:5-22, Deuteronomy 31:6-8, James 1:12, 1 John 3:1-5
BY Scarlet Hiltibidal
I’ve moved seventeen times in my thirty-five years. The whole deal: put stuff in boxes, new neighborhood, new friends, new life.
And I’ve loved most of those moves. I really have. The thing is, I like a fresh start. I enjoy a different grocery store. I love the feeling of newness, possibility, and mail-forwarding.
Some of that is probably personality. Sometimes, I was happy to move because I felt God doing something and I was excited to be part of it. But, if I’m honest, some of those moves seemed more like escapes. Sometimes, life felt hard and packing up felt like the eject button that would free me from a circumstance that might require perseverance, patience, discipline. Bleh. That’s three terrible sounding words for a person stuck in self-centeredness.
Maybe you’ve had seasons like that. Maybe your heart has been distracted from God’s beauty and God’s Word, and your flesh tends to walk in fear and to get stuck in discouragement. To look for an escape, rather than looking for how God might use you to love who you’re with and worship Him with your life.
But, God’s wisdom in passages like today’s reminds us that we can walk out our faith with courage and endurance, because the Lord Himself goes before us and will be with us, never leaving or forsaking us (Deuteronomy 31:8). His Word reminds us it is worth it to stay.
What beautiful encouragement Moses gave to Joshua, and what a beautiful truth we can carry with us when fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith feel hard or scary. God goes with us. God stays with us. Enduring always means the presence of God.
I don’t know how many moves I have in my future, or if God’s planted me where I’m at for good, but I know the reason I can finish any race is because Jesus Christ is with me. He finished the race where we didn’t. He finished the race when we couldn’t even start. Because of Him, we know there is a glorious crown of life in our future.
My tendency may be to run away from conflict and pain, but after decades of walking with the Lord and trying to shape my life around His Word, He’s shown me that there is so much blessing in staying close to Him, close to His Word, close to His will. There is so much joy that comes from enduring.
Stay in the race. Keep the faith. Remember that what might feel bleh to our flesh can feel like a blessing when we are walking in His Spirit.
30 thoughts on "Keep the Faith"
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I love this study!! I have fought the good fight I have finished the race I have kept my faith!!
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I love this study!!
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I loved these passages today. I’ve been memorizing Joshua 1:9. There’s an artist collective called Verses that helps with scripture memorization. I really love their song for Joshua 1:9. It mimics Deuteronomy 31:6-8 — and it encourages me how much God repeats Himself to Joshua. Cuz the Lord is always repeating the same Scriptures to me to get it in my head & into my heart.
I am so thankful for God’s promise to stay with us. It is the most beautiful thing. To know a Holy God stands with us in the deepest of sin. It doesn’t make sense.
@Molly — loved your post yesterday. What a beautiful journey God has you on — and your desire to trust Him. <3
@Lynne from Alabama — man, your comment brightened my morning. I'm so thankful the Lord led you to listen to my story. Thank you. My prayer is that it would equip and encourage people in their faith. May God continue to reveal Himself to your family members. He loves them and He never stops pursuing them in all their sin or confusion.
Reckless love <3
I'm so thankful to be in this community where God's love and truth is so present. Thank you everyone for taking the time to pray for me, encourage me, and strengthen me. God bless you all!!
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1 John 3:1-5 See what great love, the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children – and we are!! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.
This made me think of my son in heaven!
God promises us the crown of righteousness. We need to keep the faith! He will stand with us and strengthen us.
I need to exercise self control in everything. To fulfill my ministry. And to be strong and courageous.
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@Molly R – I had the same mission of motherhood, homeschooled my four children all the way through, trying to set the example of meeting with God each morning, relying on Him each day. What a blessing and a joy that was for me. And now I help with educating and homeschooling my grands. So I applaud you for following God’s calling. Hugs to you, sweet mother. ❤️
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Good morning Gayle. I am also a special education teacher. Bless you for 34 years of caring for children, and congratulations!!!
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Thank you for your prayers. My granddaughter is out of the hospital and seems to be on the right track. She admits that she was lost but through all the prayers lifted up for her, she feels the peace of our Lord surrounding her. ❤️
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Dear heart, set your focus on heaven, Jesus reigns there as your King. He will not forsake you. He will receive you when its time to go home. There is a crown that belongs to you there, He promised. His promises are true and worth waiting for. Keep the faith. Even the smallest seed of it is enough to grow goodness and bring life here in your present world. “Be strong and courageous…the Lord your God is with you… He will not abandon you” (Deut 31:6). My Lord, help me remember that this world is dangerous and being safe is not the point. But rather, I am a warrior in the wilderness equipped for battle, armed with Your wisdom and strength to fight the good fight. Nothing can separate me from Your love. I am strong enough to face the trials ahead. And with Your power in me, there will be victory. I will keep marching on, until… Maranatha.
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