Tag: God is with us

The Heroes of Faith

On By Carmen1 Comment

It’s encouraging to know that God provides what we need and sometimes what we desire when we seek Him and call on Him.

And it is comforting to see God work in our lives when we cry out to Him while facing difficult circumstances.

What a privilege it must be to be considered a hero of faith–one who has stayed on the path walking with God despite inconvenience, setbacks, and heartbreak.

In this post, we will look at whom God considers a hero of faith.

The chapter of Hebrews names these heroes and shares what they went through in their lives on earth.

It sets a distinct image in our minds of what great faith looks like.

These heroes not only existed in the past, but continue to exist today, and I would like to share the story of one such hero of our time toward the end of this post.

So, what does is take to be a hero of faith?

Obeying God

Hebrews 11 starts by naming heroes who walked with God in faith and trusted Him even though the world was against them.

Noah is just one example.

It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 11:7

Noah built an ark for his family and for two of every animal (male and female) to save a remnant of earth for God’s purposes.

He built a very large boat when he had never experienced rain—and he had to withstand all the criticism of the world who were not living for God.

It says that God counted Noah’s faith as righteousness and worthy of God’s blessings.

However, it didn’t turn out the same for those who did not believe God and follow Him.

In Hebrews 6, we read that God had enough of mankind’s evil and was grieved for creating them. He sought to destroy the wickedness from the face of the earth and He called upon Noah to fulfill His plan.

Imagine the faith it took Noah to build an ark when he had no knowledge how or even when it was going to rain.

He didn’t need to know.

Many times, when we are called for God’s purpose, He doesn’t give us the how’s and when’s. He simply calls us and it is up to us to obey and trust first.

When we obey God without seeing or knowing how it will work out, He then provides what we need to carry out His plan.  

He gave Noah a detailed list of instructions of how to build the ark with the materials to use.

In Genesis 6:22, we are told Noah did everything God commanded him.

And then it started to rain!

I invite you to read Genesis 6-9 for the full story of Noah’s ark.

The author of Hebrews tells us so many were able to see God’s promises and achieve astounding feats while overcoming insurmountable odds—all because of their faith in Him.

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection;

Hebrews 11:32-35a

These heroes were ordinary people just like you and me.

One was Rahab and the author made no attempt to hide the fact that she was a prostitute.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or where you come from, what matters to God is your faith and obedience to Him.

Trusting God No Matter the Circumstances

There were others who trusted God through intolerable circumstances and did not receive His promise during their earthly lives.

You may say that this is unfair and no way would you risk everything in this life for nothing.

Well, there are many who did—and still do today—because they trusted God for something better beyond this life.

and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:35b-40

To have such faith!

I hope I never have to go through such circumstances, but if I’m put to the test, I pray that I will trust God through it and be counted worthy in His eyes.

I’ve just started reading a book, i am n, published by The Voice of the Martyrs which details inspiring stories of Christians who endure persecution from Islamic Extremists.

In chapter 6 there is a story about Abdiwelli (Abdi) Ahmed from Kenya who was raised Islamic but converted to Christianity as a college student.

He had many questions about Islam and eventually came across a Bible which he read in secret.

Abdi read about Jesus Christ and was drawn to His message of peace, love, and promise of eternal life.

After spending time having his questions answered by a Christian friend, Abdi converted to Christianity and began living boldly for Jesus.

He wanted to share God’s love and promise of peace and eternal salvation with others where he lived.

Once it got out that Abdi had converted from Islam to Christianity, the persecution started. He was beaten and his life was in danger.

He fled to a family member who was a Christian pastor and was taken to a campus ministry center where he met other believers and his future wife Helen.

Helen was drawn to Abdi because of his commitment to Jesus and he told her, “I love the Lord, and I’m ready to die for Christ.”

I’m certain he wasn’t seeking death but was so committed to Christ that he understood he could be killed and decided that he would serve the LORD anyway.

As Abdi and Helen travelled around sharing the gospel, they encountered more persecution and death threats.

They prayed together and believed that God was with them. The anger toward them settled down for a while and they continued their ministry.

Abdi expanded his ministry to neighboring countries to reach Somali expatriates, because it is illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity in Somalia.

While in Garissa, Kenya, Abdi was shot to death in 2013, by assassins while talking to a pastor in the streets.

After Abdi’s death, Helen fled with their three sons to Nigeria, her home country, where God protected them and drew them closer to Him.

Abdi’s death was not in vain.

When Helen and her sons returned to Garissa in June 2020, they learned that their martyred husband and father was considered a hero and that countless Somalis around the world were led to Christ Jesus through his witness and sacrifice.

Abdi lost his personal life to teach others about truth, love, peace and a better life–eternal life.

This was God’s purpose for Abdiwelli Ahmed and he answered the call to serve Christ faithfully, intentionally, and wholly.

Believing God for a Better Outcome

Abdi’s wife Helen has continued to serve the LORD, and when questioned why after all the persecution and loss she has endured, she stated, “If I try to save my life, I will lose it.”

Abdi and Helen have given their all in surrendering to the LORD’s will for their lives, understanding that their reward will be great in Heaven into all eternity.

The apostle Paul tells us this in his first letter to the church in Corinth.

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

God loves us as we are and He has a purpose for our lives.

His call is unique for each of us and many will realize His promises in this life while others will see them in eternity.

When we answer His call despite the consequences, we will be blessed beyond our imaginations.

I pray that we will all be bold enough to step out in faith toward God’s calling, no matter the cost.

God bless you and I hope you enjoy this song of surrender to our Heavenly Father.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

What Does it Mean to Be Blessed? – Part 2

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In my last post, What Does it Mean to be Blessed?, we examined the word “blessing” by looking at what God says about it in His word, the Bible.

Today, I would like to share even more of what Jesus says about being blessed in the book of Matthew.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great;”

Matthew 5:3-12

As we read this scripture based on Jesus’s teachings to His disciples, we find that there are blessings that can be uncomfortable—much unlike what we today view as blessings.

A blessing uncomfortable?

Yes, even grievous for our earthly lives in the here and now.

Please allow me to explain.

Jesus is telling His followers that in this life there will be difficulties if they stand with and for Him.

He was simply preparing them and us to expect opposition from the world—AND to equally expect wonderful blessings from our Father in Heaven when we finally make it to our eternal home with Him.

He gives us hope that the difficulties we overcome here on earth by staying true to Him and His teachings will be greatly rewarded in eternity.

Let’s examine these verses more closely.

Blessed are the poor in Spirit…

Being poor in spirit means recognizing one’s own sinful nature and realizing we cannot forgive ourselves nor make ourselves sinless.

It also means that we understand that only God can forgive us and make us sinless.

A person poor in spirit is humble and seeks God’s mercy much like the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.

Blessed are those who mourn…

Those who mourn over their sinfulness with godly sorrow are granted salvation through their repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Their comfort is a result of their repentance that leads to salvation and assurance that they will reach the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are the meek…

Merriam-Webster defines meekness as humble or gentle, and the Bible refers to gentleness as one of the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-24)

This means that someone who is meek exercises supreme control over his actions guided by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 37 expounds upon blessings for the righteous in Christ Jesus and consequences for the ungodly.

One such blessing is the inheritance of the land along with abundant peace and prosperity.

Cease from anger and abandon wrath;
Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.
For evildoers will be eliminated,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
Yet a little while and the wicked person will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Psalm 37:8-11

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…

When we submit to God’s righteousness rather than reveling in our own self-righteousness, we will experience an inseparable knowledge of Christ through our faith.

What could be better than having a right relationship with God that fills our hunger and thirst with deep satisfaction as opposed to the emptiness of the world’s promises?

We will truly know our LORD Jesus and understand not only His suffering, but the supernatural power of His resurrection as well. (Philippians 3:8-11)

This is nothing we should fear or shun but peacefully anticipate sharing in His perfection.  

Blessed are the merciful…

Mercy is defined as compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it.

Forgiving others is what we are taught by Jesus to do. (Matthew 18:21-35)

If we have been forgiven for all our sins by our LORD and Savior, we should gladly forgive others for their wrongdoing toward us.

This is not always easy, but I do remind myself of this scripture and forgive as Jesus told us to, because I want the blessing of God’s mercy when I see Him face to face.

Blessed are the pure in heart…

Do you know anyone who is pure in heart?

Perhaps it’s someone you’ve observed for some time who does what they say no matter the cost to them.

Or someone with whom you shared intimate details in your life who kept it private.

Maybe it’s someone who walks away from gossip or changes the subject when others start to gossip.

A person who is pure in heart and follows God’s ways while living in peace with others will see God in Heaven. (Hebrews 12:14)

Blessed are the peacemakers…

My husband is a peacemaker. He always looks for a solution that can make the situation better for all involved in a disagreement. He forgives those who wrong him and does not hold grudges.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for them because God is good even to those who do evil. (Matthew 5:44-45)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake and when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me…

If there is one thing that makes me angry, it’s seeing people who do what is right being abused. I can only pray for them to have the strength and courage to keep moving forward, trusting that God will one day right the wrong done to them.

There have been and still are many people across the globe who are suffering for their faith and steadfastness in Jesus.

Many have lost their jobs and homes, suffered imprisonment, and have even been martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.

God tells us in His word that those who are persecuted for His sake will be blessed. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

We are told to be the salt of the earth, i.e., to be of good use and to preserve the word of God.

We defend God’s word and make the world a better place by doing what He tells us.

When we do, we are seen as different in that we “leave a good taste” in others’ mouths as true representatives of Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells His followers that we are the light of the world and that we are to let our light shine as a beacon of His word.

We are to be guides and lead others by our actions to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

To all the Christ followers out there, don’t lose heart when you encounter sorrows and trials because the LORD sees all the workings of mankind and He takes pleasure in your steadfastness to abide in Him.

He will right all the wrongs done to you and He has many blessings stored up for you in eternity.

May you be blessed by this song that tells us that whatever we go through, God is with us.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Our Refuge is God Alone

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If you are feeling overwhelmed by your current circumstances or even afraid of what may lie ahead, take solace that God is in control.

He is on top of what seems out of control in your life or around you.

Whether it’s finances, family issues, loss of a job, health concerns, addictions, or any other adversity—you can count on God to help you and bring you out of the hardship for the better.

The Bible tells us that God is with us and guiding us through each difficult situation we encounter.

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8  

One of the many blessings I have received from reading God’s word is that I have learned about many keepers of the faith who were able to overcome dire circumstances because God loved them and provided the answer, the way out, and the peace to keep moving along with Him.  

When I walked through difficult situations in the past, my mind would immediately go to heroes such as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Esther, David, and Daniel, just to name a few. I recalled how faithful God was to them, and I believed that He would do the same for me.

Why did I believe this? Because His word tells us that He does not show favoritism, but rewards those who follow Him and gives them peace (Romans 2:9-11).

It is our faith in God that allows us to see His supernatural power at work.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

He majestically guides, protects, and transforms us while changing our situations. He helps us overcome our adversary because He loves us and created us for His purposes.

God called Abraham to leave his home and follow Him to a better place to live that he knew nothing about nor how to get there. As God instructed him every step of the way, He encouraged him with promises for a good future for him and his descendants. Abraham, although not perfect, believed God even when he could not see how He would work it all out. God was pleased with Abraham’s faith and considered him righteous and called him a friend (James 2:23). Abraham lived many years and received all the promises God made to him in his lifetime and beyond—and it is because of Abraham’s faith that we are blessed today (Genesis 11–25).

Joseph was hated by his older siblings who sold him into slavery and was taken to a foreign land where while continuing to be obedient to God through difficult circumstances, he was thrown in prison. But God was with him even in prison and orchestrated his release and swift promotion to governor of Egypt, second in power only to Pharoah. Even though Joseph suffered greatly from his own family and fellow Egyptian citizens, God had a divine purpose for him—to save his family and the future nation of Israel (Genesis 37–50).

Moses was transformed from a shepherd in the desert to a great leader who led Israel out of slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness, and up to the Promised Land. He led hundreds of thousands for approximately 40 years, many of whom complained, rebelled, and threatened to kill him. Moses had the responsibility to protect, feed, find water, teach, judge, build a mobile sanctuary, discipline, train for war, intercede for, and forgive the entire way. For a mortal man this would be impossible, but God was there with Moses, guiding him and performing miracles for and through him (Exodus–Deuteronomy).

Joshua took over when Moses died and was responsible for leading Israel, numbered in the millions, across the Jordan River into the Promised Land inhabited by Canaanites. Joshua had to trust God that he could not only lead this great nation, but that he could also defeat the Canaanites as instructed by God to gain possession of the land. He had to trust God for his very life and for the livelihood of his people (Joshua 1-24).

Esther was a young Jewish woman taken from her home to compete against many other beautiful women for wife of King Ahasuerus in Persia. Her beauty and intelligence won the favor of the king, and she became Queen of Persia. She had to learn a new language and culture, and with this new role, she had to learn and execute the court life of royalty. When the Jews were threatened to be killed by an evil senior nobleman of the court, Esther had to lay her life on the line by going into the king unannounced. She called for a fast and prayer within her Jewish family and community to win the favor of the king as she went in for a special request. She could have been killed if the king wished by her unannounced appearance. The king granted her entry and request for a special dinner where she planned to expose the evil nobleman intent on annihilating her and her fellow Israelites. God was with her in this all the way and gave her the wisdom and favor she needed to succeed in order to save the Jewish nation (Esther 1-10).

The God of yesterday is the same God as today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8)

I can also attest to God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Because I trusted in Him, he took me from uncertain days and nights wondering whether I would be able to overcome trials to leaving all my concerns to Him in prayer.

Also, I realized that I had to be content with having JUST my Savior Jesus by my side. I had to place Him first in my life.

And how could I not? He loved me so much that He gave His life as a ransom for me.

I was not perfect along the way, but I trusted God and I set my life goal to seek after Him. I no longer put my faith in people or circumstances. I dove into His word and believed Him for a victorious life.

I made myself available to serve Him in the doors of ministry that He opened for me, and I found purpose in helping others instead of being focused on myself and my troubles.

God in His faithfulness heard my prayers and brought me gradually to a life filled with many blessings—some I asked for over the years, and others I never even dreamed of.

God is faithful!

I would like to share another Scripture verse I learned that helped transform me from being unsure about my future to knowing that God was with me, helping me every step of the way despite difficult circumstances.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.  Psalm 121

There is nothing our heavenly Father would not do to help His children overcome adverse situations and reach His purpose for their lives.

Following the ways of this world will not bring peace, joy, and fulfillment. Only God can.

If you are experiencing difficulties and don’t know what to do or can’t see your way through, I urge you to trust in God, surrender your life to Him (if you haven’t already), and seek after Him. You will be astounded by His perfect love, and you will find His will for your life.

May you be blessed as you listen to this song about how great and powerful God is.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.