Faith is a Fight

by Heather Tietz

Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12

Faith is a fight.

Even Paul, who was blinded and miraculously healed, who gave up his home and his commanding position as a rabbi to share Jesus, battled for his faith. He confessed in Romans 7:19, “ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” His heart and body were often in conflict. Faith was a fight for him. It’s a fight for us too.

Faith has been a fight for many of our Bible heroes.

When deranged King Saul was chasing David down after prophets had promised he’d one day be king, faith was a fight. When Noah’s world was flooded, and he was pressing himself to trust that God would dry up the waters, faith was a fight. When elderly Sarai was promised she’d one day be a mother, faith was a fight.

When we have work to do, but the Sabbath is nigh, faith can be a fight. When there are bills to pay, and things keep breaking, faith is a fight. When the doctor’s diagnosis is dim, faith is a fight. We doubt. We complain. But we get back up and believe and trust, hope and pray.

We are keeping up the fight because we know on the other side we will see God’s goodness.

Pray

Father God,
Help me fight for You, not against You.
Please strengthen my faith in the battles to come.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.