Our society is going through some very difficult times right now. You know that. Even if you are one who is able to go on with your normal routine you still feel it. Everything is becoming more expensive. Many areas are experiencing higher crime rates. The problems are mounting and solutions are evasive. Some tell us that it’s not the worst that our country has experienced but it is certainly worse than most have witnessed.

Now, we do not find ourselves in a position to remedy the problems we’re facing. It is true that there are biblical principles that could help us as individuals to get through difficult economic times. But at this point you’ve either lived by those ideals or you haven’t. If you have then you’re ready to weather storm. If you haven’t then hopefully you’ll better see the need to prepare once we’re through this one and you find yourself back on your feet. But while we can’t solve all of the economic woes we can certainly work on the spiritual side. And in so doing we’d like to raise a potentially interesting and telling question: what becomes of faith in hard times?

Let’s begin by acknowledging that hard times are nothing new. While it is likely that most of us have never seen so many facing difficulties at once, we have all faced difficulties. And the truth is that there are things much harder to face than economics; death, cancer, divorce, and crippling injuries are much worse. It certainly is not the worst of times. That is, unless you allow it to be. And maybe that’s what we need to look at: what are you going to allow? And that, my friends, is wholly a question of faith and trust.

Someone has said (and I apologize for not recalling who) “hard times reveal whether or not you’ve allowed God to be in your life.” I believe that’s true. For the most part, if you are at all faithful you’ll make it through easy times quite well. That’s not to say there are no challenges to our faith during good times. Amos warned, “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria…” (Amos 6:1). Jesus challenged us in the parable of the rich fool who had a bountiful crop, leading him to conclude, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luke 12:19). A real challenge during good times is coming to believe that we have accomplished something altogether separate and apart from God. On the other hand, the challenge of hard times is believing that God has abandoned us to do it all separate and apart from Him.

Some of our greatest examples of faith come to us during hard times. The woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5), the widow giving God the last of her money (Mark 12), Joseph through his numerous challenges, the slave boys led into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3). And the list goes on. So while it might not be fair to say that faith is easy during good times it would seem fair to suggest that it’s more obvious during bad times. So let’s return to our question: what becomes of faith in hard times? Or more specifically, what becomes of your faith during hard times?

Obviously, no one can answer this question for you. But it is also true that you can’t avoid answering it for yourself. Will you continue to give Him your time? What about your money? Yes, if your prosperity decreases your giving may have to decrease too, but there should always be something to give to God first (Matthew 6:33).

You’ll recall Jesus sleeping through a storm in the stern of a ship. His disciples were panicked and asked, “Do you not care that we perish?” (Mark 4:38). The scene reveals that while we may not know what the solution will be, God does. He remains in control and He ever cares. He is unchangeable during good times and bad. So, let’s ask the question the way Jesus put it: “when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). That, brethren, is entirely up to you!
~Tom Lynch