June 27: Standing Firm in Faith

Nardia Henry
Shepherdess, CIC 
Ephesus and Maranatha SDA Churches 

Theme: Avoiding doubt and double-mindedness

James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Doubt flooded my mind as I gazed upon the person I love so dearly, my confidant, my friend, my role model. As she prepared for a doctor's appointment, I was struck by the profound connection between the mind and body. She had lost over 100 pounds in just one year, and yet, despite her initial effort to fight so hard, depression had stolen her joy and will to live.

I had tried everything to help her; pep talks, counseling, reading Scripture over her, and even recreational therapy but nothing seemed to work. In that moment, the words from James 1:6-8 came to mind:

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8)

My Faith Journey

I have wrestled with doubt for much of my life: How do I believe when I can't see? But in that moment, I realized that this journey wasn’t just about my mom it was about me encountering the God of miracles. How could my faith help to bring hope to the hopeless?

My resolve grew stronger after my mom attempted suicide and left a heartbreaking farewell letter. After she was admitted to the hospital, I found the note and, in that moment of despair, I made a decision to rewrite her story. On the back of that note, I wrote a prayer of deliverance, claiming God's power to restore her life. I was determined to fight for my mom. No more wavering, my faith had to be firm.

For three long years, my husband and I fasted and prayed. We woke up in the early hours of the morning, declaring one prayer: the healing of my mom's body and mind.

God knows exactly what tools to use to bring out His truth and purpose in us. It’s easy to stop praying boldly when we don’t see the changes we expect, but in those three years, I knew deep in my heart that God would heal my mom. I couldn’t see how, but I knew it. I couldn’t explain it, but I just knew it.

By God's grace, and through persistent prayer and faith, my mom was healed from the spirit of depression. THANKS BE TO GOD!

Facing Doubt Today

Many of us are fighting doubt today. How can I believe things look so dark? Is there hope for my children, my marriage, my career, my family?

I have walked through seasons when I questioned whether God would come through for me. In those moments, when I’m unsure of what God is saying, I look back at His words and remember what He has already said and done. Sometimes, the challenge isn't our faith it's our memory.

The Decision to Stand Firm

As I reflect on my mom's journey, my heart aches knowing that after seven years of healing from depression, she is once again battling this dark cloud. It’s hard to understand why something so hard would return after God has already worked such a powerful miracle in her life. But as I stand in this season of uncertainty, I’m reminded that our faith is not defined by the absence of struggle it’s defined by our ability to stand firm in God’s promises no matter what the circumstances look like

Encouragement

As I try to encourage my mom I am encouraging you that If you’re walking through a season where things feel like they’ve taken a step backward, I want to encourage you to remember that God is not surprised by your struggles. He knows every detail of your journey and He is with you through it all. The same faith that brought you through past trials is the faith that will carry you through today’s battles.

Pray with me

Lord, teach me how to trust You today. Even when I don’t know how or when You will act, I know You will come through for me again and again. Help me to walk in faith, not fear.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.