FAITH UNDER PRESSURE - January 1, 2026
Our Thursday Night Bible Study was in full attendance last week on Zoom; and as we entered the new year, the presence of the Holy Spirit was truly felt among us.
Our theme was faith, and we dug into Scriptures that give voice to
faith that wrestles rather than retreats:
- Job’s anguish and persistence
(Job 3:11–12; 13:15; 30:23)
- David’s honest cries and steady
hope (Psalms 13; 37:4; 42:9–11)
- Habakkuk’s complaint turned
confession of trust (Habakkuk 1:2–3; 3:17–18)
- The testimony of persevering
faith in Hebrews 11
What stood out in our discussion is that biblical faith does not ignore
pain, suppress questions, or pretend circumstances are easier than they are.
Scripture gives us permission to bring our confusion, grief, and weariness
before God without letting go of Him.
We concluded that faith does not always change our circumstances—and
that it is often because of faith that we don’t let go of God even when
situations don’t seem to change.
Job’s faith did not immediately restore what he lost. David’s prayers did
not always result in instant relief. Habakkuk’s faith did not remove the coming
hardship. Yet in every case, faith kept them anchored. It kept them praying. It
kept them trusting God’s character when His ways felt hidden.
Hebrews 11 reminded us that faith is not measured solely by visible
outcomes, but by perseverance—by those who “did not receive the promise” in the
way they expected, yet refused to turn back. Faith under pressure is often
quiet, unseen, and deeply costly, but it is never wasted.
As we step into 2026, this study served as both encouragement and
exhortation:
Don’t quit in ’26.
Not because the road will be easy,
but because God is faithful even when the journey is hard.
Yetta N.A.