Standing in Faith Over a Prolonged Period of Time

…in order that you may not grow disinterested and become [spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith (by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises.

Hebrews 6:12 AMPC

As I write these words, I am sitting in the very seat that I sat down in on my very first day of Cal Poly. I specifically wanted to write this blog post from this chair, sitting in this classroom, so I came in very early before any other students arrived. 

Four weeks ago this morning I sat down in my very first Cal Poly class. When I settled into my seat, I was flooded with awe and thankfulness to God for His provision. For a few moments, I was overwhelmed by the reality of what I was witnessing. What had begun more than five years ago had finally come to fulfillment at the very moment that I sat down in my chair. 

Five years ago, God began speaking to me about going to school and studying aerospace engineering. Five years ago, a dream was planted in my heart and I began the process of building and releasing my faith in line with God’s will for my life. 

During the past five years, I have had hundreds of opportunities to quit, give up, and take the easy way out. Well-intentioned friends, colleagues, and even mentors had expressed their doubts, dubious that I was really hearing from God, and that stepping out in complete faith and obedience was too risky. Most people whom we told about our impending adventure raised their eyebrows when they heard that we were planning on moving to a completely new area, with no friends or family, all without acceptance into the university of my choosing. But we knew we heard from God. We knew we had heard His voice regarding the timing, what to do, and how to do it.

As Jenny and I have looked back over the past five years, we can say with absolute certainty that God truly is faithful to His Word! He has been so faithful to confirm His Word to us countless times, speaking to us from the Bible, other people, teachings, podcasts, books, and our own inward witness that we were on the right track and that we really were hearing from Him. 

Friend, I am living proof, sitting right here in this Cal Poly classroom as I write these words, that when God plants a dream in your heart, if you are faithful and obedient to follow His Word, no matter what comes, you will find that He will bring it to a physical reality. 

For the past five years I’ve seen myself (completely by faith) in a Cal Poly classroom, but it wasn’t until recently that I saw (with my physical eyes) the manifestation of my faith.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us about the power of standing in faith over a prolonged period of time, encouraging us to not grow lazy in exercising our faith, but operating in powerful, lasting, and tenacious faith that produces results: 

…in order that you may not grow disinterested and become [spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith (by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises.

Notice that He speaks against “growing disinterested” and “becoming spiritual sluggards.” It’s easy to get excited about stepping out into a great adventure in faith, but it doesn’t take long for the initial emotion to wear off. Anyone can get started when they hear from God, but not everyone finishes. Contrary to the ease of starting something exciting, it takes resilience, guts, and an unflinching resolve to finish. 

That’s why the writer of Hebrews goes on to describe those who finish well: “(by their leaning of the[ir] entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance are [now] inheriting the promises.”

In other words, the people who end up experiencing the fulfillment of the words God had spoken to them were people who did three important things:

1. They did not drop their guard. Notice that you don’t become disinterested or a spiritual sluggard in one night. It takes time to grow disinterested in the things that once captivated and held your interest so intently. One way to keep your guard up is to maintain close intimacy with the Lord through continual prayer and a commitment to reading the Bible everyday. In this way, you can keep your spiritual physique strong and fit–not allowing spiritual muscles to atrophy through lack of attention. 

2. They had absolute trust that God was faithful to His Word. When you spend time with the Father, you become more and more convinced that His Promises are really for you. You begin to take the Word of God personally. Everything must start with the context that God is absolutely good, faithful, and true to His Word. When you get this settled in your heart at the deepest level, no argument of man will be able to move you off your feet. You are now ready to stand in faith, no matter what comes! 

3.  They learned the art of standing in faith in the face of all opposition. In this case, and in mine, one force of opposition was time itself. Don’t ever allow time to rob you of your rightful promises. If God promised something to you, you are not to let the fulfillment of His Word leave your sight, not even if time threatens your resolve. 

I just had to share some of these thoughts today, as my physical eyes are filled with the image of the promise I have been seeing in my heart for the past half-decade. I pray this encourages you to take that thing God has spoken to your heart and MOVE in that direction with a deeper level of resolve, confidence, and trust in His goodness.

With all my love!