The Challenge

As it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

Living a faith-based life requires a daily commitment to believe that God will be faithful in His promises. Often, when we face circumstances that are impossible for us to solve, we become discouraged and begin to doubt God’s power. But, know this, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19

The Challenge is for us to stop placing limits on our powerful God. Yesterday, I was listening to the audiobook, Steps to Christ, and the author answered the question, “Why do we continue to doubt God?”

The usual tribulation that most of us experience involves financial shortages, our liabilities (bills) exceed our assets (money). Our first response is to try to figure out how we will handle the deficit from not being able to pay the rent, mortgage, vehicle payment, etc. We begin to think of the worst-case scenario, eviction, foreclosure, or repossession, and immediately switch over to the panic mode. When our circumstances are bleak, the mindset of defeat is precisely what Satan relies on; then, he places the seed of doubt and disbelief in God. During intense struggles, the Master Deceiver wants us to think that God does not love us and has abandoned us in the time of our greatest need.

In 1993, I shared an apartment with a roommate who worked for the real estate company that owned the building. Because of the employee incentive, the monthly rental fee was well below the market price. She handled the monthly rental transaction with the Building Manager for two years. Every year my roommate’s family traveled abroad for one month, so the expectation was that the rent would be paid two months in advance to include the month of travel. Even so, the plan did not include the unexpected eviction notice that I received two weeks after they traveled? Fear gripped my mind. My roommate had not paid the rent for three months.

Since my name was on the lease, I was responsible for the back payment. When I contacted the apartment manager, she relayed that the eviction court proceedings could not be stopped and that she was unable to intervene. The plot thickens, the manager was my roommate’s immediate supervisor, and responsible for Accounts Receivable. She was aware that my roommate had failed to pay the rent for three months. It was then, that I realized that both were involved in a pre-meditated plot that would lead to my eviction. 

Many years later, I am unable to remember all of the small details. However, I did not pack my belongings, nor did I panic, I fasted and prayed for God to intervene on my behalf. The following week, I sat on the bench outside of the courtroom, and prayed a short prayer, “God, I know that you will take care of me. Amen.” The Attorneys began to call out names of individuals who were in the same predicament as me. One by one, the waiting area emptied, sitting alone, I whispered another prayer. As I heard my name and proceeded to get up, the attorney asked me to sit down. He explained that he had reviewed my case, and we were not going before the judge. He gave me his business card and instructed me to contact the apartment manager and tell her that I needed a 6-month payment plan to pay the past-due rent.

Not only did God provide the extra funds, I never saw my roommate again. Due to the exposure of having a double identity, she was not allowed to return to the United States. It was a sad outcome for her family who had no idea that she was involved in illegal activities.

As I share this testimony, I would like to encourage someone who feels hopeless to pray, believe, and wait on God. Do not think of what you can do for yourself, think of the God who is our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. We were created in the image of God. He is our Heavenly Father who will never abandon us in our time of need. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1. 

Take the Challenge: Pray for God’s intervention! Do not focus on the circumstances. Faith gives us the power to believe that God has your situation under control. Study the Bible, learn His promises, and know that deliverance is possible. There are times that we will not be able to keep tangible possessions, or we may be required to learn new career skills. Trust God, His plans, and the process that He takes you through. And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

The Challenge is to assert your position as a Believer! Never forget the Source of our Strength!

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:31-34

Turn your eyes (your mind) upon Jesus. He knows, He cares, and He provides.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author.