Faith is much easier when there’s something tangible we can touch or view. It’s easy to say I have faith, and easy to attend church, read my Bible, and smile through life when the checkbook is balanced, health is good, family is fine, and all is right with the world.

Unfortunately, in the world we have trouble, real trouble, and sometimes really bad trouble. Jesus warned us we would. Yet we still wail and stumble when life hits with below-the-belt punches.

As I pondered the continual difficulties of life, I realized these are the times when we discover if our faith is real. We say we believe in God, but will we believe in God even when nothing is going our way? I’m thinking this is only a test — a test of the emergency faith filled system.

Will our emergency faith system click into gear when everything implodes around us? Or will we just implode?

Will we be able to say (and mean it), though the fig tree doesn’t bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there aren’t sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. ~ Habakkuk 3:17-18.

Though we face trials and tribulations, we can be filled with joy. Because trials produce patience, growing endurance, steadfastness, which works to perfect, develop and complete us. We must rest, trust, and wait on God, secure in knowing the Emergency Faith System is merely a vehicle to test and prove our genuine faith.

One evening, Jesus told His followers, “Let’s go across the lake.” The idea sounded good, no problem, many of the men were fishermen who knew the lake. Jesus went to the back of the boat and slept. All seemed peaceful and calm, until a storm hit with such ferocity, they thought they were going to die.

“Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a cushion. His followers woke him and said, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we are drowning!’ Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm. Jesus said to his followers, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” ~ Mark 4:38-40 (NCV)

In the storms, Jesus is with you. In the event of any emergency, God is always there. In the event of any need, God is sufficient. In the event of any fear, God shelters us in the shadow of His wings. With God all things are possible, and He will never, ever leave or forsake us.

Activate your Emergency Faith System, and hold firmly to Jesus, The One who with a word calms any storms. Peace, be still.

Heavenly Father, forgive me when I’m afraid. But thank You for loving me enough to help even when my faith seems very weak. When I’m scared, and the waves and the storm are so very big, remind me to cuddle up next to you and rest. Thank You for Your promises. You truly have never left or forsaken me. Oh, Father thank You. I love You forever.

~ John 16:33, 1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-4, Luke 1:37, 1 Corinthians 10:14, Deuteronomy 31:8, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 32:10, 1 John 3:19, Romans 15:13, Psalm 27:14, Luke 8:24

From Living Joyfully Free Devotional by Lisa Buffaloe https://amzn.to/396WfAc