Faith

What Does it Mean to Use God’s Name in Vain?

August 31, 2023 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Spiritual Growth

One of the Ten Commandments prohibits using God’s name in vain. Since God is holy, his name also deserves reverence. Naturally, many Christians are concerned with misusing God’s name. They are careful to avoid saying the name of God in place of an expletive or in moments of exclamation or shock. They are right to do this. However, using God’s name in vain is not just about speaking his name as a curse word. It’s much deeper than this.

In this article, I would like to introduce the importance of God’s name in the Bible, suggest reasons why Exodus 20:7 is about more than just our language, and explain what the Bible actually means when it says not to take the name of the Lord in vain. If you’re reading this and you feel that this article doesn’t apply to you because you never use God’s name in vain as a curse word, I would encourage you to keep reading anyway.

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What is God’s name?

In Exodus 3, Moses encounters God who then commissions him to return to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go free. After receiving this commission, Moses asks God an important question:

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13 NIV)

God responds and tells Moses, “I AM WHO I AM… say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).

“I AM” comes from the Hebrew verb hayah which means “to be.” This is where we get the name Yahweh that is frequently used in the Bible for God. Yahweh refers to God’s self-existence, or in other words, the fact that God has no beginning or end. An article from the NIV Study Bible explains that the name Yahweh is a “perpetual testimony to [God’s] faithfulness to his promises.” Yahweh is God’s covenantal name and it reminds his people that he is with them.

Similarly, for us today, the name Yahweh is a reminder that God loves us, cares for us, and will never leave us.

A Person’s Name Defines Their Character

I also want to point out that in Ancient Israelite society, one did not give their child a name just because it was pretty or trendy. One’s name was directly connected with their character. This is why we see so many name changes in the Old Testament. The name Jacob means “supplanter,” and describes someone who seized or usurped things from others. When Jacob encountered God, God changed his name to Israel, or, “one who wrestles with God.”

Similarly, God’s name represents God’s character.

We spoke of the name Yahweh as God’s covenantal name, but God is also given many other names:

God is el Roi, “the God who sees.” (Genesis 16:14-15)

God is adonai, “Lord” or “Master.”

God is the Ancient of Days, referring to God’s eternal existence. (Daniel 7)

God is el elyon, “God Most High” (Psalm 57:2)

God’s people have also referred to him as:

Yahweh Shalom, the Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24).

Yahweh Nissi, the Lord is my banner (Exodus 17:15).

Yahweh Tsidkenu, the Lord is our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6).

Yahweh Ra’ah the Lord is our shepherd (Psalm 23:1).

You probably also know God as Comforter, Friend, Savior, Redeemer, etc.

These names describe God’s character and actions towards his people.

Related: What Does it Mean to Fear God?

Where does God’s name dwell?

This concept may feel foreign because we are not living in the same time period or place as the Biblical writers. However, God’s name did dwell in a specific place, and learning about this can give us more insight into what it means to use God’s name in vain.

In the Pentateuch, particularly in Deuteronomy, we find passages about God’s name dwelling in a place:

But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. (Deuteronomy 12:5)

but at the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name, you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 16:6)

that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in from your land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name. (Deuteronomy 26:2)

God’s name dwelt among the people of Israel in the land of Israel.

Israel as bearers of God’s name

In an interview with Michael Heiser, Tim Mackie of The Bible Project explained that the Hebrew of Exodus 20:7 actually speaks of carrying the Lord’s name in vain as opposed to taking or using the Lord’s name in vain.

Israel was supposed to be bearers of God’s name. In other words, they represented God.

As representatives of God, they were not permitted to misrepresent God in their lifestyle and actions.

When the surrounding nations looked at Israel, they were supposed to see a group of people who acted like they knew and lived in a relationship with the one true God.

Christians also bear God’s name

As Christians, we now also bear God’s name. We represent Christ in the world. Our friends and neighbors should look to us to learn about what it means to live in a relationship with the one true God.

This is perhaps why, regarding those who speak out against one thing and then do the same thing themselves, Paul boldly states in Romans 2:24:

As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Christians are called to show the world who God is through our lives.

If we claim to represent Christ and do the things he hates, we are inviting others to blaspheme, and disrespect God’s name.

What does it mean to take God’s name in vain?

Taking God’s name in vain is not only about speaking God’s name in an inappropriate way. It also involves representing God in an inappropriate way.

What taking God’s name in vain can look like:

Claiming to love Christ but failing to demonstrate the love of Christ in our actions
Believing that adultery is a sin, but still practicing it anyway
Knowing that Christ is Lord but choosing to support false religions
Practicing any kind of sinful lifestyle even while claiming to be a believer

If our lives do not match the character of the God we represent, then we are taking God’s name in vain.

Similarly, if people see us and do not see Christ in us, then we are taking Christ’s name in vain.

Where do we go from here?

The truth of the matter is that none of us are perfect and we will inevitably do things that misrepresent God.

First, it is important to remember the fact that Christ has set us free from the punishment and stronghold of sin. When we are weak, Christ is strong.

Next, evaluate your life. Ask God to help open your eyes to the ways in which you may be carrying his name in vain. When you find yourself doing this, simply ask for his forgiveness and his power to do the right thing the next time.

Also, while we do make mistakes and have off-days, ask yourself this. Does my life as a whole represent the God I claim to worship?

If you find that your life does not truly represent God, don’t be afraid to repent. God is gracious and kind.

I hope that this article was able to help you see that using God’s name in vain is not just about words. It’s also about how we represent God in the world. May we seek to glorify God with our lives as much as we seek to glorify him with our words.

What Is the Cost of Following Jesus?

July 31, 2023 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Christian Living

Prosperity preachers teach that coming to Jesus will bring financial blessings, a life filled with ease and freedom from worry and hardship. Sunday after Sunday, their churches are packed with unsuspecting people who think that following Jesus will make their lives easier. Ultimately, they walk away disappointed because the Christianity they were promised is not the Christianity that they experience. But Jesus didn’t teach that Christianity would make our lives free from struggle. In fact, he said the opposite.

While there are many blessings that come with being a Christian, there are also important costs that come with following Christ. I don’t write this article to scare you away from the faith, but instead my hope is to remind you that Christianity is meant to make us more like Jesus, and in order to do so, Christianity can be costly. However, the benefits outweigh the costs and a life with Christ is the best gift we can ever receive.

If you are interested in Christianity, or you are already a believer struggling with with some of the “costs” of following Jesus, this article is for you.

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The Rich Young Ruler

One day, a man went up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what can I do to gain eternal life?” From his question, it seems that he really wanted to follow Christ. Jesus responds and tells him to follow the commandments. I imagine that the man was filled with joy because he responded, “I already do these things.” Then Jesus looked at him lovingly and said, “But there’s one thing you lack. Sell your treasures and then follow me.” The man walked away from Jesus with sorrow – he didn’t want to give up his stuff.

Counting the Cost

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Luke 14:28-29

Like so many people today, the young ruler failed to understand that following Christ comes with a cost. He didn’t consider that Jesus would ask him to give up his greatest possessions.

If you want to start a project or work on an idea, wouldn’t you first consider how much of your time and resources it would take before beginning? Likewise, if we want to become disciples of Christ, we should be aware how much it will cost to follow him.

The Cost of Following Jesus

Let’s look at Luke 14 and Matthew 16. There are some important things Jesus tells his disciples about the cost of following him.

Cost #1 Carrying Our Cross

“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27

In order to be a disciple of Christ, one needs to carry his or her own cross. The cross represents the suffering that Jesus endured. As Christians, carrying our cross means being willing to endure our own hardship for the sake of Jesus. If we aren’t willing to carry our cross, then there’s no point in being a disciple of Jesus (Luke 14:27).

Cost #2: Loving Jesus More Than Anything Else

Jesus also says something in Luke 14 that’s a little difficult to hear:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

He doesn’t mean to “hate” our loved ones in the way that we think of it today. In this context, “hate” is a semitic idiom that simply means to love less. What Jesus is saying is that in order to be a disciple, we should love him more than anything and anyone else.

Related: How to Endure In Suffering

Cost #3: Self-Denial

Finally, in Matthew 16:24, Jesus explains that following him also includes self-denial.This means that we need to be willing to lay down some things we deeply love and enjoy for the sake of following Christ. Just as Jesus followed the Father’s will and went to the cross, we should also follow God’s will and do what God desires of us. Sometimes this will come easily, and other times it may be more difficult. But following Jesus means persevering and doing God’s will whether it’s easy or difficult.

Christianity Doesn’t Promise An Easy Life

If you came to Christ expecting that Christianity would bring an easy life, then you are mistaken. Christianity doesn’t promise that everything will be perfect. It doesn’t promise that everyone will love us, or that things will always work out just as we hoped. Jesus’ disciples all had to endure hardship for the sake of the cross. We will too.

What Christianity Does Promise

But, I don’t want you to think that Christianity is all hardship and pain. It isn’t. It’s filled with so much joy and beauty. And, any hardship we endure is ultimately meant to lead us towards a beautiful future in the presence of God.

When we become Christians, we are freed from the power of sin. It can no longer weigh on us like a burden. Similarly, Christianity gives us access into the presence of God and unhindered fellowship with our Creator. As Christians, we also gain a relationship with Christ and a community of fellow believers. Last but certainly not least, Christianity grants us eternal life with God.

Christianity does not promise a perfect life free from struggles. Following Jesus will always come at a cost. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we are essentially signing up to go through some hardship and suffering. However, we’re also signing up for a wonderful relationship with God, fellowship with Christ and other believers, and eternity in heaven.

The Road To Emmaus: The Need for Faith In Suffering

April 8, 2023 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Spiritual Growth

Have you ever heard something that sounded so crazy that you figured it couldn’t possibly be true?

The disciples on the road to Emmaus probably felt this way about Jesus’ teachings surrounding his death and resurrection.

We find them leaving Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus. They were discouraged because Jesus, the one they thought would have redeemed Israel, had died. The irony is that Jesus meets them on their journey and begins a conversation with them but they do not recognize him.

They begin to share their explanation of the things that happened in Jerusalem. After they finish, Jesus chides them, and remarks that they are foolish and slow to believe. He didn’t think that they should have been as discouraged as they were.

Keep reading and I’ll explain the significance of the road to Emmaus and why Jesus responded as he did; then I’ll share two key takeaways from the passage that can encourage Christians walking through hard times.

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The Story of the Road to Emmaus

The Journey to Emmaus (vv. 13-14)

As I shared previously, verses 13 and 14 mention that two disciples were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem.

This is significant because as disciples of Christ, and likely Jewish men, they would have observed Passover. Passover is observed for seven days. Yet, they were leaving Jerusalem four days early. Pablo T. Gadenz thinks that the disciples saw no reason to stay in Jerusalem because of what happened to Jesus, and were on their way home. [1]

They were sad as they left Jerusalem. They thought Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. As far as they knew, he didn’t. “How could death bring redemption?” they probably wondered to themselves.

Encountering Jesus on the Road to Emmaus (v. 15-24)

As they walked and talked, Jesus came up to them and began to walk with them. The key to remember is that they didn’t recognize Jesus. He casually asks them what they were talking about, and with sadness in his face, Cleopas responds, “Are you the only one who doesn’t know?” Although he did indeed know, Jesus asks, “What?” and prompts them to share what they believed about his death.

They explained that Jesus of Nazareth was a powerful prophet. But he was arrested and sentenced to death by the chief priests and the Jewish rulers. They told him that they hoped Jesus was going to redeem Israel.

Their sadness and despair is so obvious in this short section.

We hoped…

Their words reveal what was in their hearts. They once had faith that Jesus could redeem Israel, but when things got really bad, they no longer believed. Their faith was based on what they could see not based on the truth Jesus spoke to them.

Foolish and Slow of Heart (v. 25-27)

Jesus responded and said to them,

“How foolish are you, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
Luke 24:25 (NIV)
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While the word “foolish” would cause one to think that Jesus is speaking about their intellectual ability, the second part of the sentence makes it clear that he isn’t. [2]

The NIV, like many other English translations, uses the phrase “slow to believe” in this verse. However, this isn’t exactly what the phrase says in Greek.

In Greek, it reads literally reads “slow of heart to believe.”

It’s not that they didn’t believe because they intellectually couldn’t, they didn’t believe because of something going on with their hearts.

Even if it was difficult for them to understand from the Old Testament that Jesus was meant to suffer, they should have understood it from Jesus’ own words before his death. He told his disciples what would happen.

In their minds, the message was too crazy to be true. Their hearts were closed off from believing that Jesus would redeem Israel by first suffering.

However, Jesus was kind to them and explained everything that the scriptures said about himself.

Breaking Bread with Jesus (vv. 28-35)

They were so intrigued by Jesus’ words that they invited him to stay with them. Remember, at this point they still didn’t know who he was.

He sat with them, took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them. Then at this point, their eyes were opened and they recognized him. They reflected on the conversation they had on the road and realized that their hearts were stirred as Jesus spoke. Then, as quickly as they could, they left Emmaus and returned to Jerusalem to tell the others.

Two Key Takeaways for Christians from the Road to Emmaus

#1 We Need Faith that is Firm in Suffering

Remember how I previously mentioned the disciples’ sadness and despair? Their emotions were valid. But the level of discouragement they felt didn’t match the truth they had been told about the Messiah. They would have stayed in Jerusalem if they had believed Jesus’ words.

You and I are not so different from the Emmaus Disciples. We might have also missed the point of Jesus’ message. If we were in Jerusalem during those days, we probably would have begun our own journeys home.

Like these two disciples, we can often be “slow of heart.” We don’t always believe Jesus’ words and when trouble comes, we fall into despair.

The Messiah had to suffer and then enter his glory. Likewise, the Christian has to suffer and then enter into glory with Christ.

If you are experiencing unexpected hard times, don’t turn away from Christ. Remember his words and allow them to bring you hope.

Instead of a faith that says “we had hoped” when hardship strikes, may we have faith that still remains firm in suffering.

#2 God is Gracious Even When We Struggle to Believe

But thankfully, God was gracious to these disciples who struggled to believe.

Notice two things: in the beginning of this section (v. 16), Luke tells us that “they were kept from recognizing him.” And at the end (v. 31), Luke explains that “their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”

These verses are worded like this for a reason. It’s meant to highlight the fact that God, through his divine agency, kept them from recognizing Jesus at the beginning of the journey, and allowed them to recognize him at the end.

Technically, they should have believed in the Resurrection because of the faith they had in Jesus and the words he spoke before he died.

However, God was gracious enough to open their eyes so that they could see for themselves that Christ had resurrected.

Similarly, God is gracious to us. He doesn’t walk away when we struggle to believe. He opens our eyes by sitting with us, feeding us, and compassionately telling us the truth.

[1] Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture). Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018.

[2] See Chen, Diane G.. Luke : A New Covenant Commentary. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2017.

47 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Christian Women In Your Life

April 1, 2023 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Christian Living

Are you shopping for a Christian woman this holiday season? There are so many beautiful gifts that can enrich her life and help strengthen her relationship with God. We have put together a list of 47 Christmas gift ideas for Christian women to help inspire your holiday shopping! These gift ideas are fun, inspiring, gorgeous, and memorable. These will make the perfect gift!

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47 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Christian Women in Your Life

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I hope you enjoyed this article featuring 47 Christmas gift ideas for the Christian women in your life! Please feel free to let me know if you have any other amazing gifts you think Christian women would love.

Surrendering to the God of Hope When All Seems Lost

February 20, 2023 | by Guest Author Christian Living

“I still have hope for things to change, but regardless, I want Jesus more.”

I sat across from my friend as chills went down my back. Her circumstances hadn’t changed, but her hope had been restored. You could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice, even see it in the way she carried herself.

Have you ever longed for something? Like a heart-wrenching, all-consuming kind of longing? The kind of longing that leaves you having many vulnerable conversations with God? Well after years of desperately longing for God to come through, my friend sat across from me a changed person.

Nothing had physically changed, and the circumstances were still the same, but spiritually, everything had changed.

She explained that God had restored her hope. But what really struck me, is that even if he never came through with what she has desperately longed for, it wouldn’t matter, because her longing for Jesus is far greater than anything else she could hope for.

What a beautiful, vulnerable place of complete surrender.

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Waiting for the Miracle: The Power of Hope

I know what it’s like to really hope for something. Like when God gives you promises of things to come and you must wait, desperately longing for the miracle and trusting that God is going to come through.

Proverbs 13:12 says ‘hope deferred makes the heart sick.’ Waiting for the miracle isn’t easy.

Doubt can begin to creep in, as you start to question if you are even hoping for the right thing. Many times, I’ve found myself questioning if I’ve even heard from God correctly, or if I’m just caught up in my own desires.

But our God is the God of hope. Whenever I feel my hope wavering, I go back over the promises he’s spoken to me, the verses he’s given me and the testimonies of his faithfulness that I’ve seen and heard. To put it another way, when I feel my hope wavering, I come back to Jesus.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrew 10:23

We can get so caught up in longing for the miracle, that we forget to long for the Miracle Maker.

What is Biblical Hope?

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we have an eternal hope that one day we will spend eternity with Jesus. But we also have hope for our everyday.

Our culture has lessened the value of the word hope, as we throw it into conversations like ‘I hope you feel better soon’ or ‘I hope to see you soon.’ It’s become a polite exchange.

But God isn’t a God of just polite exchanges. The hope he gives us is so much greater.

Paul prays for the church in Ephesus that ‘the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you’ (Ephesians 1:18). God is not just sitting around waiting for the day Jesus returns, he is actively working in and through us, today and every day, to bring Heaven on Earth.

Biblical hope is not a shallow optimism that everything will just ‘be okay,’ but a deep, powerful belief that God is finishing what he started we he sent his son, Jesus, to reconcile himself to us (2 Corinthians 5:18).

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6

Dry Bones Come Alive: Restoring Hope

The Israelites knew what it was like to desperately long for God to come through.

God promised to take them out of captivity and lead them to the Promised Land (Genesis 15:18). In Ezekiel 37, God speaks to the prophet, Ezekiel, about how the nation of Israel had become like dry bones. As I was reading over this passage again, there was a part I couldn’t pass.

‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’
Ezekiel 37:11

Their loss of hope caused their loss of life.

Life without hope is not life at all.

However, God wanted to bring them life, even before their circumstances changed.

God commands Ezekiel to speak a prophetic word over them (Ezekiel 37:4) and he promises to breathe his Spirit in them and bring them life (Ezekiel 37:14). God reminds them of his promise to physically lead them to the Promised Land, but he is also spiritually transforming them by restoring their hope.

It is the breath of God, his Spirit, that brings us life.

Fully Surrendering to the God of Hope

Hope can feel scary because it’s believing for something out of our control. But hope also brings full freedom because we must fully surrender to God.

There is something deeply soul changing when our hope is set in Jesus. Isaiah says that those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.’ (Isaiah 40:31).

We are called to the freedom we experience when our hope lies solely in the hands of our Heavenly Father. This is a freedom where we trust that his ways and plans are always better, as he fully knows us and fully loves us.

So, no matter your circumstances, hope is not lost. God has a divine and beautiful solution to whatever you need.

And even so, he is still good.

Let this be my prayer for you, as you learn to trust God and let him breathe hope into every situation in your life:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

Eleanor Carpenter

Writer

Eleanor Carpenter is a mother, wife and number one hype girl for women discovering their identity as daughters of the King. Unafraid to talk about the real and raw moments of life, she empowers women to embrace being fully known and loved by God. She is the founder of Fully Loved, which is a community that equips and empowers women to live spirit-filled lives to the fullest. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or through her website.

Such Faith: Encouragement for Christian Mothers from Hebrews 11

September 5, 2022 | by Guest Author Christian Living

After the birth of my second son, I decided to go back to Hebrews 11:1 and study the whole chapter. Being a mom of two brought new challenges and I wanted to spend time studying the examples of faith. God asked many people in the Bible to do things that must have seemed absurd, and there are days when that’s what motherhood is like!

The people in the bible trusted God enough to follow his leading. I was encouraged by their faith and reminded that while God may set tasks before us that require courage, he will never forsake us. And yes, motherhood requires courage! So, let’s look at some of these courageous stories of faith. May they encourage you in your journey as a mother, or in the journey towards any other new task the Lord puts in your life.

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Noah and the Ark

“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
Hebrews 11:7 ESV

If you’ve spent any time with animals, you’ll understand how much faith Noah and his family must have had to agree to build an ark and fill it with every kind of animal! Even common domesticated animals can be a handful without adding lions, bears, zebras, deer and so on. The Bible doesn’t elaborate on how Noah fed the animals or cared for them, but that is all part of the miracle.

Not only that but Noah had to build the ark first, which would have been a huge undertaking! How terrifying it must have been, the prospect of everything God was telling him to do. He didn’t let it stop him though. For his obedience, God saved his family and all the animals from the flood. Such faith!

Abraham and the Sacrifice of Isaac

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”
Hebrews 11:17-18 ESV

This story of Abraham and Isaac has always hit me hard. Just as God offered Jesus as a sacrifice for the world, Abraham followed God’s instructions to the point of being ready to sacrifice his son Isaac.

It’s hard to imagine this as a parent. Giving up your son, trusting that God will raise him from the dead! We do everything in our power to protect our kids, but we have to remember that God is the greater power and he will take care of them. God is faithful to those who trust him and stayed Abraham’s hand after he had shown his obedience.

Abraham did not live to see God’s promise fulfilled (the father of nations, Genesis 12:2) but because of his faith, it did happen. What a testament to the assurance of things hoped for. Abraham had no way of knowing whether or not God’s promise would be made real. Such faith!

The Israelites & the Walls of Jericho

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”
Hebrews 11:30 ESV

“Keep walking, but you won’t knock down our wall!” If you are familiar with VeggieTales you may know this song (from the episode “Josh and the Big Wall”). The peas who stood on Jericho’s wall sang it and laughed at the Israelites as they walked around the wall.

When you reread the chapter and think about what the Israelites were doing, it does seem ridiculous! As if walking around and around in circles would make a wall fall. At what point did the Israelites also feel this way? Did they want to turn and run in the other direction instead of marching around a city? I can only imagine the amount of faith it would have taken to keep going.

Likewise, it takes faith not to give up when raising your children to become Godly men and women. Keep being faithful, and believe God to work in their lives.

The Israelites didn’t give in to peer pressure, or to jeering and taunting. They kept their faith and completed the task. Lo and behold the wall fell, just as God promised. Such faith!

Our Faith: Joining in the Legacy of Hebrews 11

There are so many more stories I could talk about, and Hebrews 11 states this as well. People trusted God to provide for them and some of these people died without ever seeing what was promised. Today we have the bible to show us how much God cares for us. These stories remind us of what faith has cost people but also what it provides.

It can be difficult to trust God in our daily lives. When things are running smoothly, we may think we are being faithful but it’s when we encounter a struggle or big decision that our faith is tested. Motherhood can be hard. Even if you’re not a mother, you will encounter life experiences that require faith. Career changes. Big moves. Health issues. Relationship struggles. These are all areas where God may ask us to remain faithful even when the situation looks bleak.

We serve a faithful God. All these stories of faith show God’s faithfulness toward us. When we keep our eyes on him and follow his directions, he will not forsake us. As a mom, I am reminded of this when I reread Hebrews 11. God has plans for my life and my children’s lives if we have faith enough to follow!

As it says in the previous chapter of Hebrews:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 ESV

So, I encourage you to have faith this week. God may not ask you to build a giant boat and house all the animals in the world, but he does ask us to do daunting tasks. Have faith! Trust that God will give you what you need to succeed. Be assured that the things we hope for; the things we cannot see will be provided!

Alyssa Gale

Alyssa Gale is a teacher turned stay-at-home mom and blogger. When she isn’t singing kid songs or enjoying God’s creation with her boys, she writes. Her passion is to share Christian perspectives on parenting, including stories, recipes, tips and activities. Check her out on Facebook @littlebitoflavender.