What Faith Is

 

 

Faith doesn’t get you through the storm

No, it does not!

Faith does not make the fiery trial

Any less hot!

 

Faith does not heal a loved one,

As a matter of fact, faith can’t!

Faith cannot even restore

A shattered romance.

 

Faith does not pay the bills

When the money is lacking

And it certainly doesn’t keep a train on track

When the train is not tracking.

 

Faith does not bring back a precious saint

When the grim reaper calls

And it surely doesn’t fill the gas tank

When the motor engine stalls.

 

Why did that airliner full of missionaries

Suddenly crash to the ground?

And why when they needed God

He appeared not to be around?

 

 

Clearly faith didn’t turn things around

For that plane burrowed into the ground

And the screams and the prayers went unheard

All the time it was going down.

 

Faith didn’t bring the miracle

That for long years some had sought

Though with tear-stained face and bruised knees

They prayed and were not distraught.

 

They believed every time

And they kept on beseeching God

But the evidence showed, and starkly so,

They never received that for which they called.

 

Though they had faith

And they never lacked,

Their request was not forthcoming

But was like a letter sent back.

 

 

So, what is this faith

That so many elaborate about?

This faith, that pleases God,

And the born-again cannot live without?

 

It is the faith that speaks to:

Who is in the boat

When the storms of life assail us

And we struggle to stay afloat.

 

It is the faith that we hold to

 And increasingly convert to trust

When all around us is falling apart

Amidst the confusion and fuss.

 

It is the faith that resolutely says

I know the Saviour is with me

And with trust in him I will march forward

Irrespective of what circumstances be.

 

His strength for my weakness!

His perfection for my every flaw!

Faith in the Spirit of the Living Word

And not the letter of the Law.

 

Faith in his every admonition!

Faith to walk the blood-stained way!

Faith to crucify the flesh and the world

And to walk with Jesus till my dying day.

 

Faith to traverse the valley of death

With an assured and calm repose

And faith in the knowledge of being a conqueror

Over death, my final foe.

 

Faith to know that when I open my eyes

After they close in death

I will behold my precious Saviour, Jesus,

And my eternal rest.

 

I will behold his nailed pierced hands

And know for a surety,

It wasn’t just faith that brought me through

But trusting the Almighty.

 

Faith doesn’t get you through the storm

No, it does not!

Faith does not make the fiery trial

Any less hot!

 

 

Faith is knowing

Jesus is with you in your boat

And he will be always with you

Whether it sails or float.

 

Stewart Russell © October 25, 2022

 

God’s Rest

Are you weary and heavy laden?

Is your back bent carrying your burden?

Are you crumpling under the weight of the load?

Come to Jesus and find rest for your soul.

For he has promised to you he’ll give his rest

Whoever comes to him no matter the test,

His offer of rest is simply the best

To take you uphill and over the crest.

The rest the world offers is void of peace,

Its relief is temporal and there is little release,

The mind clatters on even when the hands are done

And little rest occurs before the rising of the sun.

Then it’s back to the fray still feeling fatigue

Top of the list in the dissatisfied league,

A Disillusioned, depressed, disgruntle colleague

Doing fastidious labour for an employer’s intrigue.

 

But God’s rest is different from that of the world,

Much is said of this rest in His Holy Word,

Matthew 11:28 is one such scripture reference

That provides us with an exceeding better preference.

It is an invitation that is open to all,

Do not reject His offer when you hear Him call, 

For under sin’s burden you are likely to fall

Even though you are pretending to be walking tall.

This rest is highlighted in Hebrews 4 verse 9

And is unaffected by anything you and I opine,

To the people of God there is a rest that remains,

For those who come to Him such is their claim.

This is not a Sabbath day rest as issued by the Law

To a Jewish people overcome by sin and flawed,

This rest is eternal and only for the redeemed

Who have come to Christ and whom he esteems.

Let us therefore labour to enter into that rest

Being fully assured in Jesus we have passed the test,

For he succeeded where the first Adam had failed

And in the face of Satan’s assault triumphantly prevailed.

Rest from the disturbed heart in a troubled breast

Rest that is eternal, sweet refreshing rest,

Rest bought by the Saviour when on the cross he died,

Eternal rest in the kingdom over which he will preside.

That rest can be yours today, even right now,

Just come to the Saviour and penitently bow

Acknowledging, confessing and repenting of your sin,

Invite Jesus into your heart and put your trust in him.

Stewart Russell © 2017