tree in a storm test of faith
Praise Foundations

Finding Victory in the Testing of Faith: 3 Strategies You Need

Every Christian comes to Jesus Christ through an initial faith, but if your faith doesn’t grow, you’ll always struggle to get victory, or walk in the joy or peace of God, or to “lay hold of the purpose for which Jesus Christ laid hold of you,” (Philippians 3:12). When your testing faith comes (and it will!), you need a “cord of three strands” to bind your faith to the Lord.

What many don’t realize about faith is that the Word of God is the primary source of faith, wisdom, knowledge and understanding, but it is not the only necessary source.

In life and in your faith, this Scripture sums up how to think about what God has given you to stay strong: “…And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand himβ€”a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

God Has Woven Your Faith With a Cord of Three Strands

In order to be strong during a time of testing or trials of your faith, you need to anchor yourself to the Rock of Salvation with a cord of three strands – the wisdom of the Word of God, the power of prayer, and the strength from your songs to the Lord.

But…

  • If the Word of God is the only way you build your faith, you’ll struggle with the spiritual warfare and victories that are obtained through the application of the Word in prayer and worship.
  • If prayer is all you use to build your faith, when the enemy comes against you, you’ll have no “sword” with an “It is Written!” to fight with.
  • If worship is all you use to build your faith, you’ll have no foundation to anchor to and you’ll shipwreck in the storm and trials of faith in your life.

Your faith needs to be bound with “a cord of three strands” to both protect you and help you proceed in your faith journey.

Everyone experiences seasons of trials and testing. Trials come for many reasons.

Remember, the enemy will attack regardless of who is innocent, who didn’t deserve it, and who is weak or young, but you don’t have to stand for it. You have the spiritual right and authority to fight back and God ensured your victory in His Word – but you’re going to have to wage war to win.

You faith needs to be tightly held together with the cord of three strands God has given you so when trials and testing come, you won’t come unraveled.

~Alicia Purdy

If God is testing you, it is because He has something He needs you to see about yourself, and about Him. If the enemy is testing your faith, it is because he is trying to break what God is trying to make. If you are in a trial of your own making, run to Jesus! He will untangle your mess.

1 Peter 1:7 says, “…in order that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

a ship in a lightning storm

You faith needs to be tightly held together with the cord of three strands God has given you so when trials and testing come, you won’t come unraveled.

Your Faith Will be Tested, but God Will be Faithful

God doesn’t test you to see if you are faithful. When His testing of faith comes, it is because He needs you to know where things are. As you walk through life and face trials of various kinds, you’ll learn more and more about the Lord, and about yourself!

What God can do through you is only limited by what He can do within you. Worship will keep you wide open to His Holy Spirit!

Micah 7:8 says, “Rejoice not over me, OΒ my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, theΒ LordΒ will be a light to me.” (ESV)

The only difference between how life affects you and how it affects others is how you use what you’ve been given by God.

“What God can do through you is only limited by what He can do within you.”

~Alicia Purdy

He has given you His “cord of three strands” of your faith, an unbreakable strategy that will hold you together when hard times come.

  • The Weapon of Worship and Praise
  • The Wisdom of the Word of God
  • The War of the Spirit in Prayer

Life will always have its ups and downs, but as you bind yourself to your faith with the Word of God (Matthew 4:4), prayer in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18, Jude 1:20) and the praise and worship of the Lord under pressure (Acts 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 14:15), you’ll be held together by cords that cannot be broken.

Each of these is a necessary component of your growth and maturity in Christ and each needs equal emphasis on a daily basis if you’re going to succeed in the war of faith for the situations in your life, in your family, in your finances, in your health, in your children’s lives, in your career and everything else that concerns you.

Thought for today: Growing in Faith Means Growing in Faithfulness

If you are struggling in your faith – strengthen your cords! To anchor yourself to Jesus Christ, you will need to build your spiritual life with intention and balance incorporating equal amounts of the Word of God, prayer and worship.

Many people emphasize one of these spiritual pillars over another – they spend all their time in the Word, but are weak in their prayer life. They only want to worship, but don’t make time each day to dig into the Scriptures. They want to spend all their time in intercession, but they have no knowledge of the Word or any understanding how to apply the Word in worship.

Remember, you have been given the exact same access to the same spiritual power and authority and faith as anyone else in the whole world. There isn’t “more” of God. He’s given you all He has:

When it comes to testing and trials in your life, bind yourself to the Lord with the cord of three strands He has given you for your safety and success. Remember: “…A threefold cord is not quickly broken…” (Ecclesiastes 4:9) and you won’t be either!

Resources to Help You Find Strength in God’s Faithfulness:

“Learning to Walk in the Power of Gratitude Directed toward God”

way of the worshipper logo

Don’t forget to pick up a copy ofΒ The Way of the WorshipperΒ on Amazon – and AVAILABLE NOW you can also purchaseΒ The Way of the Worshipper: A Devotional WorkbookΒ forΒ deeper study, personal examination and spiritual growth!