Diligently Seek HIM!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

Too often people read this Scripture and the enemy will bring condemnation. Why? Because we think everything must be perfect in our lives if we're walking by faith. If we have enough faith, we won't have any problems. Now think about that for a minute. If we don't have any problems, why will we need faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT SEEN." Faith gives you the ability to see beyond your circumstances and to continue to put your hope and confidence in the Word of God, no matter what your circumstances tell you.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that we must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. While we should seek God diligently at all times, most of us begin to seek Him more when we have something going on in our lives. We know that He is the only One that has the answer. We know we have to get in touch with Him or we won't make it. That's how He wants us to seek Him. And we must believe that He will reward us as we diligently seek after Him!

Hebrews 11:32-40 really shows us what faith looks like. Faith does not always guarantee immediate results. Sometimes faith helps us to endure.

"And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." ~ Hebrews 11:32-40

If you're facing something right now that has been going on a while, don't be discouraged! God has given you the faith to face whatever trial you are in! You may feel overwhelmed by it. That's ok. It is in this place that you realize your desperate need for God. He sees your faith. He understands the cries of your heart. He is with you. Seek Him as never before. Instead of desperately begging to escape this storm, seek HIM! Get to know your Creator in ways that you have never known Him before. Discover His goodness. Learn how faithful He is in the MIDST of the storm. Stop looking at this storm as something that is going to destroy you. It is making you stronger. It is building your character. It is making you more like Him and it is helping you to truly know God. The intimacy you will have with Him during this time will develop such a beautiful relationship that can never be taken away from you. When the next trial comes, you will be prepared because you will have established this relationship with Him and you will be able to keep your eyes on Him instead of what's going on around you. The storm won't be able to move you because your foundation has been established. Be secure in His love. He's holding you tightly in His hand and will never let you go!