When faced with a challenge or an unanswered prayer, it’s unlikely that we all would respond with joy. In this sermon, Dr. Stanley examines what causes our trust in God to waver and encourages us to address our own moments of fluctuating faith.
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next on InTouch the challenge of
wavering faith
the often wonder why God hasn’t answered
your prayer when you’ve come to him over
and over again about the same issue and
you tell him about it you give him all
the details and yet nothing happens
could it be it’s because of your faith
not that you don’t have any but your
faith is sort of wavers it’s strong
today and tonight me not sure strong
tomorrow maybe the next day it’s not so
strong and so we have wavering faith
that is it comes and goes and then we
wonder why God doesn’t hear an answer
our prayer in James the first shift and
I want you to turn that if you will the
second verse of the first chapter he
says consider it all joy my brethren
when you encounter various trials now we
don’t like trials very much but he’s
just kind of joyful knowing that the
testing of your faith is producing
endurance that is that something good
about the test and let endurance have
it’s perfect result so that you may be
perfect and complete lacking in nothing
but if any of you lacks wisdom let him
ask of God who gives to all generously
and without reproach and they will be
given him and then he says but he must
ask in faith without any doubting for
the one who doubts is like the surface
of the sea driven and tossed by the wind
for that man or woman or not to expect
to receive anything from the Lord being
a double minded man or woman unstable in
all their ways
so also think about this old idea of the
wavering of our faith and James lived
close to the sea reality no doubt and
when those hot winds would come down off
the mountain across the sea and
storms that Jesus talked about and they
right in the middle of them and the
waves would go this way and then they’d
go that way and they ships up and the
ships down and they were scared to death
knowing they were gonna sink he said
that that’s the way our faith is
sometimes that is it’s not steady it’s
not always the same so watch this one of
the marks of our devotion to Jesus is
the fact that we can pray and pray and
pray and we don’t give up because God
then answer on our schedule and so I’ll
tell you how you know when you’re giving
that when you think well I don’t know
maybe I’m not asking the right thing
deep down inside you know you are and
yeah and so you wake up one morning you
think God’s gonna answer my prayer they
praise the Lord you excited it doesn’t
happen the next thing you get up in that
yard of what happened and so we judge
ourselves we condemn ourselves we
conclude that God does not always answer
prayer he does always answer maybe not
the way I like him too but he’s always
going to answer it so would you say you
have faith is sturdy steady consistent
believing unwavering trusting with all
your heart knowing that God is going to
answer your prayer would you say to be
honest and I can believe him as long as
I’ll get a little encouragement but
sometimes I think God where are you
where are you God well why haven’t you
answered my prayer do you think that
first thing that yard is the only idiom
to answer your prayer no because what
that says is well he’s accomplishing his
fast that is when we argue with God
what’s he doing he’s showing us first of
all we’re impatient secondly we don’t
know his will number three we’re not
ready and so what seems to us to be a
mistake on the part of God I’ll forget
from this on his part it’s not that at
all and so what we do we begin we don’t
like to admit if we begin to doubt what
God says asking that you be given you
seek and ye shall find not going to be
able to be well Lord I’ve been asking
since Monday and I don’t have an answer
and then we caught him some other verses
and it doesn’t seem to impress God at
all and so what happens the next thing
you know where you think oh he’s not
going to oh yes he is maybe he will
maybe you know and so up and down our
faith it goes wavering faith doesn’t get
anything from God so let’s think for
just a moment what causes our faith to
waver like that when we choose to go by
our feelings rather than the Word of God
when we move our eyes from the Word of
God and his promises to how we feel we
are going to begin to be unstable in our
faith and God knew that the wonderful
thing about this word you never have to
question what God says what he says is
not just true sometimes it’s true all
the time and when we choose to go by our
feelings rather than the Word of God our
faith is going to be up today and down
tomorrow so we put our feelings first
that’s one of the reasons we waver
secondly when we yield listen when we
yield to reason rather than believe God
in other words you can’t go by reason
because reason and faith do not always
agree
God’s reason for example for not
answering my petition the way I ask may
not be the reason I would come up with
for example we we come to God in asking
big things of him we have all kinds of
reasons to believe he’ll answer our
prayer it may be that God sees something
we hadn’t thought about and he’s not
about to answer our prayers that he
deals for that so if there’s a
reservation if there’s a hesitation if
there is if there’s an instance in which
God is waiting it’s because he has a
legitimate good divine helpful reason
for it and I think oftentimes believers
because God doesn’t answer that prayer
when we expected what happens is we just
doubt him
we pout we think well that’s not want me
praying you know well because I ask God
for this and everyone small I’ll meet
some others says
now here you’re talking about prayer I
used to pray what do you mean used to
pray well I prayed before and you hadn’t
asked my press oh I just forgot that
they just gave up on that God done
that’s a prayer it’s amazing at juvenile
and childlike we can become because
things don’t happen the way we expected
and when we expected so ask yourself the
question do you go by reason or by the
Word of God and then a third thing when
we fail to see how they work in our
circumstances that is if you don’t if
you don’t see God at work in your
circumstances you’re gonna doubt what’s
your known and I remember this as a
follower of Jesus nothing can happen to
you unless he allows it and so
difficulty hardship pain suffering
moments of doubt he what does he allow
this be because he’s trying to grow us
up and so we fail to see God in our
circumstances
what happens is we begin to wobble in
our failure how is he gonna grow us up
if he doesn’t test us if he doesn’t try
us if he doesn’t allow us to face things
that we don’t understand things that we
don’t like things that oftentimes it’ll
drive us to the word I think about times
I’ve been in situations and I thought
God you got to speak to my heart and I
will flip to something like this the
counsel of the Lord stands forever so I
just happen to turn to that but that’s
what he usually does not all the time
but turn me right to the verse of
scripture he knows I need because all of
us are gonna face tests and trials and
one or two things will happen I’ll turn
to him and trust him I’ll turn to the
Word of God and reading strengthen my
faith I’ll find myself wobbling and
wasting time and oftentimes that’s where
people get in trouble well if God loved
me he won’t let this happen God knows
exactly the right time to meet every
single need we have and sometimes he
waits a long time sometimes he waits a
long time and we give up and we go back
and we give up and we go back and we
give up and we go
remember this if you watch this
carefully if you have asked something
that’s in the will of God
relax it’ll come in his timing when he
knows you’re ready and he’s ready and
you’re receiving it at this time will
enable him to accomplish what he wants
to accomplish in your life he’s in
charge then sometimes we listen to
negative counsel from other people how
many people have said to you well it
must be something wrong what you’re
asking for because how long have you
been praying for that so think about why
you find yourself wavering in your
prayer request because think about this
what do we call them our Heavenly what
father I having the father that loves us
and if you think about this the next
time you think God doesn’t care all you
have to do is remember this look at the
cross you want to know what he cares or
not look at the cross there’s nothing to
equal that there’s no love equal to what
God did through his son the Lord Jesus
at the cross of Calvary nothing that
will ever happen will match that and so
when we give up we don’t realize what
God’s up to he’s always up to something
good no matter what it might be and so
when we listen to negative counsel we’re
heading for trouble
listen if you’re asking y’all about
something in your life probably it’s
best that you keep it to yourself some
things you can ask other people to help
you pray about naturally but then
there’s some things that God just wants
the two of you just the two of you to
deal with it don’t talk to anybody else
about it just talk to me about it and
you say okay well Lord I’ve been talking
to you three months and you haven’t done
anything yes watch this yes he has
listened carefully
when do you think God hasn’t done
anything he said three months to work on
you and and to get you ready for the
answer and oftentimes
before a gun has it all prepared for us
we want to give up we said God hasn’t
heard me we walk away from God at a
pivotal point in our life don’t forget
that I see it happening all the time
well I’ve been praying well what happens
well you know what I’ve decided yeah I
just hadn’t heard me yes it yes think
about this
why wouldn’t God listen to you you say
well I’ve never been saved he’s waiting
for you to recognize your sinfulness cry
out to him to save you so don’t give up
on God he knows exactly where you are in
your life then of course when we focus
our thinking on our circumstances rather
than God what is he there remember this
he always has his objective and love and
devotion and commitment to him our man
is on something else his mind is on what
will build our relationship and so when
we think about we focus on the
circumstances and we think well how
could God there was now that this has
happened how could God possibly do
anything with this you can’t rush God
you cannot hurry God does God care yes
they care about everything yes care
about everybody yes but he knows the
right time the right place the right
person are the right things whatever it
might be God knows exactly what you need
he knows exactly the right time to
provide it he knows how long to withhold
it until he gets your attention would
you say that God wants the best for you
I just pretty good the best he wants the
best for us then I must be willing to
wait for the best circumstances you
can’t go by circumstances then of course
one of our problems is we sort of
ignorant of God’s ways in other words
there’s nothing in the Bible that says
asking it shall be given to you
immediately that’s what we wish you
would say but it doesn’t say that
when you think about how God operates
watch this whatever we are asking for
that may be the will of God usually he
has not only that but something else in
mind also and God is a loving God in
other words the others God isn’t trying
to withhold anything good from us is
that our faith begins to waver because
we don’t get it when we wanted the way
we wanted and it may be that we don’t
get it through whom we expected it to
come and the more we understand the ways
of God the more patient will become when
he comes to answered prayer because
oftentimes he withholds watch this he
withholds what I’m looking for because
he’s got something better than I was
looking for thinking about this God your
heavenly Father why would he withhold
from you anything that’s good for you
why would he give you something less
than the best he’s got big plans for all
of us and they have to do with listen
they have to do with making us like
himself conforming us of the lightness
of image of Christ that’s what he’s
interested in all this other stuff
something we do so we’re ignorant of
God’s ways and one of the things that
causes their faith to wobble is that
guilt over present of past sins and
watch this carefully as I talk to people
over the years one of the biggest
handicaps to trusting God is they look
back and stead of looking at young and
his love and forgiveness and kindness
they look back and they think how could
God ever love me for what I’ve done
how could God ever love me what I’ve
been where
and what I’ve been and so we judged
ourselves and the devil he loves that
yeah doesn’t want you looking back he
wants you looking straight toward him he
forgives every sin he wipes it clean
with the blood of Jesus we’re his
children
he’s conforming us to his likeness he’s
working in our life every single day
because he knows ultimately where we’re
gonna be so ask yourself the question is
your faith solid strong immovable or is
it wishy-washy don’t be like the waves
of the sea coming and going so how do we
correct our wavering faith we corrected
by asking the following questions so I
have a list of them ask yourself the
following questions number one where are
these doubts coming from where are these
doubts coming from probably something in
your past something going on in your
life listen when you are asking God
about your life and you’re in the
process of living in sin you’re gonna
have confusion listen a spirit of
confusion will envelop the life of a
person who’s living in sin and talking
to God you’re gonna have it you gonna
have a feeling of it of confusion where
are these doubts coming from secondly
you think about this did God promise to
meet all your needs well I hear a couple
of yeses how many of you said would say
yeah yes he’s promised to meet all my
needs amen
has he who he must have missed somebody
not only has he promised it watch this
he’ll meet all of our needs not all my
wants not all of my desires but all of
my needs
now what doesn’t he meet all my wants
long my desires because he loves me too
much if my wants and my desires come
into conflict with a world of
he’s not gonna answer it why because he
loves us too much to give us what we
shouldn’t have thank God he’s not giving
me a few things that I’ve asked for
because listen he always has something
better and think about this we all would
say yes
he’s promised to meet all of Enys think
about this
did he not promise to be with us all the
time
what’s that verse real short I will
never leave you nor forsake you how many
of you have ever felt left and forsaken
by God the rest of you not being honest
sure you have at some point you think
God where are you got one chance in my
bread what’s going on he’s always
interested in drawing us to himself and
making our life count somebody says well
sometimes I don’t feel God’s presence
watch this why has he made it so that
sometimes I don’t feel this presence why
would God do that can you have a good
reason sure because he doesn’t want us
to live by feelings he knew we would
we’d vessel 8 I feel fantastic today
well God it was so close yesterday God’s
nowhere to be found there was if we live
by our feelings we would never know
where we are in our relationship to God
we live by what truth we live by the
truth I will never forsake you I will
never leave you we live by truth of the
word of God and then listeners did he
not give you one of the greatest gifts
of all and that is when you were saved
he indwells you with the Holy Spirit
that is listen to this God says I’m
gonna send the Holy Spirit who will be
in you with you and upon you he’s going
to be your guide
he’s gonna be a help of a Parakletos
he’s gonna be your helper he’s gonna be
the source of your strength he’s gonna
be there for you anytime anywhere in any
circumstances he’s gonna be the one who
empowers you enabled you he’s going to
be your very life that’s our security
that’s our absolute assurance and so
once you receive Christ as your Savior
listen to this he loves you so much you
cannot be lost watch this once he writes
your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life you
you trusting him as your Savior there’s
nothing in the Bible about Erasers
nothing there nobody can erase your name
from the Lamb’s Book of Life because
it’s written with indelible divine ink
cannot be erased in any condition once
you’re saved by the grace of God watch
this grace says in the very beginning I
don’t deserve it
grace is all about love and forgiveness
and cleansing and acceptance once you
trust them as your personal Savior name
written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and
what you sin against God
you get chastise you sin against God you
pay the price but watch this that price
is never your soul never your so once
you’re saved by the grace of God your
for ever saved you start living in sin
what happens chastisement comes and you
he will chastise you so how much money
chest has me he’ll chastise you until
you think you can’t stand it anymore and
you get straightened out with God that
may be where you are this morning you
may have to admit well you know what I
got out of the will of God back yonder
and I told God I didn’t want to live
that way anymore it didn’t work for me
so I showed up this morning hoping out
here something that helped me once you
trust the Jesus Christ as your personal
Savior you are forever
a child of God
you may be a child of God who lots of
doubt lots of fears things are not
working right in your life but watch
this but not lost not lost because He
loves you because he cares because he
has the best for you
this is holy God who said I’ve sealed
you unto the day of redemption that is
when he calls us home
sealed secured forever we have no reason
to doubt him and every once in a while
I’ll meet somebody who says to me you
don’t know what I’ve done in my life I
said doesn’t make any difference no but
if you knew the kind of life I live you
and be tournament to me about your love
yes I would no matter what you’ve done
where you’ve done it with her than
making a difference this is the awesome
forgiveness of God on the cross every
single solitary sin that man has or
could ever possibly commit the price has
been paid for your forgiveness your
salvation for all eternity he’s an
awesome God He loves us from the love
that we can’t even describe and when I
think about people whose faith wavers I
think sometimes they must think that
there must be something too hard for God
no it’s a matter of surrendering to him
and watch him work in your life that’s
who God is
he’s this awesome infinite God full of
love that’s indescribable I ask you one
last question
what could Almighty God have done to
prove his love for all of us that even
matches what he did at the cross what
else could he do to prove his love for
God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son that whosoever bleep
watch this who Seven believes in him not
exfoliant not laborious for him
whosoever believes in him would not
perish but have eternal life do you
believe him do you believe he died for
your sins do you believe that when he
went to the cross he paid your sin debt
in full you willing to ask him to
forgive you of your sins or in your life
to him and start light listen begin life
anew with Jesus in your life sealed by
the Holy Spirit in one of these days
welcomed into heaven by Almighty God
amen father we thank you for loving us
and we look at the cross and think oh
how unworthy we are oh how much you must
love us show us how to live out what
you’ve done for us and what you do for
us continually deliver us from all doubt
all fear and may we arrest absolutely
and totally and your lovely arms in
Jesus name Amen
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