My Firm Foundation
Hardship and unanswered questions will test our faith, but when our belief system is built upon the rock of God's Word, we establish a firm foundation from which we can withstand the storms of life.
June 2013
I distinctly remember my first broken heart.
I was a senior in college, weeks away from graduating, when my world fell apart. The relationship I thought God wanted me to be in came crashing down around me. On the outside I probably looked fine as I walked through the motions of life, but on the inside I was deeply troubled. My faith was shaken because I thought God had told me this was the person He wanted me to marry…but now it’s over?
Questions flooded my mind as I struggled to make sense of it all. Why did this happen to me? Am I not living by faith? What could I have done differently? Did I really hear God’s voice about this person? Can I still trust God? Did He steer me wrong or did I just miss it?
WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH QUESTIONS
American author Madeleine L’Engle once said, “Questions are disturbing, especially those which may threaten our traditions, our institutions, our security. But questions never threaten the living God, who is constantly calling us, and who affirms for us that love is stronger than hate, blessings stronger than cursing.”
During that time in college when my relationship ended, I remember sitting on a bus and thinking, No one here knows that I’m hurting inside. They don’t know I have so many questions. They may see a normal person when they look at me, but they don’t know I’m going through a difficult time.
Then another thought followed: What if one of them is hurting like I am? Maybe one of them just lost their grandma or they are in the middle of a divorce or dealing with a life-threatening disease? I don’t know what any of these people are going through. What if they have questions just like I do?
That day I realized I wasn’t alone in my hurt and confusion. Others out there were experiencing pain and questioning their faith just like I was. I knew God was still around, but I couldn’t find a suitable answer to that nagging question that comes in so many different forms: “Why?”
It was difficult to accept the fact that my faith could be questioned. But eventually I came to realize that questions are just part of growing up and becoming a mature follower of Christ. I like what the Apostle Paul says about this in the book of James:
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
(James 1:2-4 KJV)
MY FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS
It’s not always a fun process when our faith is tested, but it is something that every Christian will go through. And this experience taught me that when difficult times come, I better know what I believe. You see, this was one of the first times in my life when things didn’t work out the way I had planned, prayed, or expected. As a result, I felt alone, confused, and scared.
It also made me realize that my faith in God and in His promises were not nearly as established in my heart as I thought they were. Ouch! And because I had not yet developed a solid foundation of beliefs, I put my faith at risk of being swayed by my circumstances, instead of the other way around. I decided then that I was going to grow and strengthen the roots of my faith by reading my Bible more and applying the truths and promises of God’s Word to my life.
You see, the devil is after what you and I believe. If he can get us to question or change our beliefs, he wins. If he can get us to blame our circumstances on God, he wins. But if he can’t get us to alter or shift our faith, then God wins!
During the difficult questions of life, we won’t blame the Lord if we are firmly rooted on the promises of God’s Word. Promises like He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5), that He will help us finish the work He began in us (Phil. 1:6), that He will give us rest in times of weariness (Matt. 11:28), and that He will supply all of our needs according to His glorious riches (Phil. 4:19).
These and other foundational truths of God’s Word (like forgiveness, love, and salvation, etc.) show me who God is and give me confidence about my natural and eternal destiny. The world may fall apart and day-to-day circumstances may scream something different to me, but these things will not change. And because they will not change, I have the strength and stability to now face the questions and challenges of life with confidence because even though I don’t understand the “why’s,” I know that God is still in control and because He loves us, everything will somehow turn out alright.
BUT WHAT ABOUT...?
When I think about my college relationship, I’m not sure I’ll ever know the reasons why it didn't work out...and that used to bother me. But it doesn't anymore.
As I've grown and matured as a believer, I have come to realize that while it's perfectly normal for Christians to have questions, we are not always going to get answers. In fact, most of the time, we won't.
I like what C.S. Lewis said, “When I lay these questions before God I get no answer. But a rather special sort of 'No answer.' It is not the locked door. It is more like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze. As though He shook His head not in refusal but waiving the question. Like, 'Peace, child; you don't understand.’”
Therefore, for the last ten years, I've tried to ask fewer questions and instead work harder to establish a firm foundation of faith in God's promises. This has definitely helped me learn more about God and expand my faith! Now when the storms of life pass by, I am not so easily moved by what I don't know or understand.
God is always at work in our lives, even when we don’t realize it. And since Father’s Day is celebrated this month, I want to remind you that He is working on your behalf. He is your heavenly Father and He loves you. Yes, hurt will come and go and questions will surface, but when you get to the point where His promises are firmly established in your heart, your faith will not be affected by the circumstances of life. You will no longer be “tossed to and fro” as Paul says in Ephesians. So I encourage you to establish a firm foundation of beliefs in your life because that will give you the peace and security you need to withstand the difficult questions and storms of life.
LET'S KEEP REACHING PEOPLE
What do you see as the core beliefs in your life? What have you held onto in the middle of adversity? When questions arise, what is your answer? What foundational promises do you stand upon?
I hope you’ve had a chance to settle your faith firmly in your heart so that the questions of life don’t cause you to sway or shift your faith. If you that’s not the case for you, I encourage you to look through the faith-building articles we have at cfaith. Let our vast supply of teaching articles help you build your own foundation of faith.
I do have a specific request. Cfaith isn’t here only for strong believers. We want to reach out to those who may have questions, but no stability in their faith. Maybe some of these people haven’t yet met our Heavenly Father or don’t have a strong relationship with Him. Regardless, would you consider giving a financial gift today so we can continue the ministry of cfaith and more people can be reached with the life-changing message of faith in God’s Word?
I hope you will agree that the ministry of cfaith is worthy of your support and prayers. Thank you!
Let me close with what apostle Peter once said: “…the grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.”
(1 Peter 1:24-25 KJV)
I encourage you to make sure that your Heavenly Father is—and always remains—your firm foundation in this life.
Fighting the good fight of faith with you today and always,
Laura Wegener
cfaith
Beyond writing, Laura Wegener loves spending time with her family, reading, and helping out at church. 
