Mature faith is the faith of the believer that has been tested and tried through various pressures and trials of life. It is a faith that does not shrink back in these difficult seasons; instead, their faith grows and matures, where the believer comes out on the other side stronger and refined. It is a faith that has been questioned and examined and found to be true.
Peter talks about this kind faith in I Peter 1:6-7 (NKJV): “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”
Many have a false perception of the life of faith. Thinking that if we live by faith we will not face the kind of problems others face. This kind of thinking could not be further from the truth. We need to teach believers and prepare them for difficult times because hard times will come.
Jesus said that the winds of life, the floods of temptation, and the rain of unexpected events, will come upon both houses. The house that was built on sand and the house that was built on the rock. It’s what we do in response to these hard times that make or break us.
Isaiah 43:2 NKJV
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
The waters, rivers, and fire all represent challenges, obstacles, opposition, and trials on various fronts. Through it all, God promises to be ever-present and makes use of these challenges to mature and grow us into the kind of people He has destined us to become. One of the greatest needs we have in our Churches today is seasoned believers, believers who possess a mature and purified faith. Believers who have gone through tribulations and have come out on the other side victorious, obtaining a testimony of true faith.
We need families who have faced the pressures of life, the floods of evil, and the winds of adversity. Nevertheless, they remained faithful because they have learned to build on the solid rock of obedience to Christ and His teaching. We desperately need to see people who share a testimony that glorifies God and His word as the One who brought them through and caused them to triumph in all of the trials of life.
Don’t complain about your lot, look at your life at present and see the challenges you face right now as stepping-stones to a mature faith. Face these challenges with courage and confidence in the Lord and ask Him to teach you how to fight the good fight of faith. Stay before God in prayer and dive into His word until you find answers, wisdom, and strength. Learn through the word how to overcome.
Paul writing to Timothy he instructs him “to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal to which he was called…” As we exercise our faith in God’s word and come against the giants of life, we grow, mature, and ultimately conquer. As we overcome, our Heavenly Father receives the glory and we have a testimony to share.