It has been getting harder to take the next step up to becoming a father in the faith. There is much more involved than I previously realized, requiring commitment, and hard training by Your Spirit, in the face of tribulation. And through this You teach us how to use and experience the fruits of the Spirit. As these fruits are developed, we learn to praise God in spite of our circumstances. We don’t just praise Him in the good times, but we are to praise Him in the most difficult, bad times. These bad times can affect us in several different ways: it can either devastate or destroy us, or we can cry out to the Lord God for assistance to get us through, without complaining, allowing depression, rebellion or hostile responses.
Scripture says we are to endure till the end, and through His power and help, overcome victoriously all tribulation and difficulties. Either Satan has a stronghold on us in this way, or the Lord God can and will give us a way of escape, by giving us freedom and victory over the powers of darkness.
Scripture also says that we will face tribulation in life. As a dedicated Christian, it seems that Satan escalates the trials and tribulations, and becomes more difficult for those who try to draw closer to Father God. It’s obvious that Satan wants us focusing on difficulties instead of Him.
Our choices determine success or failure; victory or defeat; peace and joy over stress and depression. We can choose how to live our lives. When we learn to live trusting in the Lord, we are living by faith, not by sight. Those who consistently learn to practice living this way develop into fathers in the faith.