By: Juliet Constantine

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31)
 

It is amazing how persons demonstrated such great faith one moment and at the next, they are like leaves being tossed about by wind of trouble. The Bible recorded many experiences of persons who demonstrated great faith in God. They serve as a motivator to propel us on our way. Yet, this same book also recorded some shipwrecked faith experiences of some of these persons. They are only humans we reasoned. It’s an experience most, if not all, humans go through – being on the mountaintop today and down in the valley the next. That’s alright so long as you do not stay in the valley. Unfortunately for some, they never made it back to the mountaintop. Can you think of any who did and who didn’t?

Abraham is known as the father of faith. He believed without seeing/knowing. He left home in search of a promise. Yet, when faced with perceived trouble, he was faithless and lied about his wife being his sister – none once but twice! You would have thought he learnt his lesson and was much stronger in faith as he aged. But alas! He couldn’t wait on the promised son! His faith was shipwrecked again as he listened to the voice of his wife, Sarah. To prove his loyalty, God had to give him a severe test, using the promised child as the bait! Finally, Abraham was at that point when he rather loose all than to dishonor God. He now trusted God with his entire life! And what about Elijah – he called fire from Heaven, then ran for his life!

There are others like them in Old Testament times. But let’s look at New Testament times. Look at Peter! His faith was shipwrecked when Jesus was taken. He denied his association with Him saying he knew Him not! Not once, or twice, but three times he denied the Lord! This was a shipwrecked experience in Peter’s life. Praise be to God, he didn’t remain in the valley! He didn’t allow pride to blind his eyes when Jesus went looking for him. This time, it would be different for him. He would preach Jesus wherever he goes. He was no longer ashamed to own Him as Lord! But the story ended differently for Judas. His faith was totally shipwrecked. So shipwrecked was his faith that he could not forgiven himself. Like many today, he took the cowardly way out. He took his own life. He remained in the valley.

When trouble comes, your faith could be shipwrecked! So, what is it that will keep your faith from being shipwrecked or that will serve as a motivator for you to go on, rise and hope again? It’s your belief in God. Your relationship with God – if you truly know Him, will serve to buoy your spirits on. It was the same for Job – though He slay me, yet will I trust Him; it was the same for Paul – for I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor anything shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Jesus.

Hold onto your faith in God, without which it is impossible to please Him. No matter what you’re going through, keep believing that God will fix it for you. Do not stay in the valley if you’ve become shipwrecked. Just get up and believe again – believe your way back to the mountaintop. Your faith will make you whole and lead you home.

Our Heavenly Father, thank you for Your words which are written for our learning. Please help us never to give up on You because you have never given up on us. Please continue to bless and keep us faithful, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)