The Stories and Experiences That Strengthen Our faith

Joshua 24:31 “The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him--those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel.” (NLT) (author emphasis)

When I read this scripture, I was struck by the latter part of the verse: “those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel”. I began to think about how a personal experience makes a mighty impact on each of us, especially if it involves some type of significant event. Even though others may witness it, hear of it, or hear it from you, they will not have experienced it, and therefore it does not have the same impact for them.

In this scripture (right before Joshua died), Joshua sharply instructed the Israelites to follow God’s commands, which Moses had read to the people of Israel before he died. But there was a lingering, unspoken thought within Joshua that the people would stray because they did not personally experience what the Lord had done for their ancestors.

Judges 2:17b “How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands.” (NLT)

These were Israelites who did not experience first-hand the incredible things that the Lord had done for their ancestors. They only heard the stories. In fact, God directed the leaders to read the Book of Instruction every 7 years so all generations would hear what He had done and remain faithful.

Deuteronomy 31:13-14 “Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions. 13 Do this so that your children who have not known these instructions will hear them and will learn to fear the Lord your God. Do this as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.” (NLT)

Sometimes it's hard to remain faithful when you only hear stories and have not experienced those situations on your own. I believe that God takes us through experiences to strengthen our faith. They may be very different from what others have been through; they may take longer to go through; we may not see the fruitfulness of these experiences for a while. But He will take us through them. This is what strengthens our faith and allows it to take flight.

However, I also believe that God strengthens our faith through the reading/hearing of His Word, prayer, and hearing the stories of others’ God-filled experiences. Some of you may remember when I cracked 2 bones in my right leg 3.5 years ago after stepping in a disguised hole. Before I was helped off the ground, God said “the healing has begun”. And it had! He created these amazing bodies to heal themselves. He taught me a great deal during that 7 weeks when my leg was elevated. Many others expressed their doubt that they could handle a situation like this for this length of time. What would I do? God took care of that!

This was an event I experienced first-hand, and God led me through it. First the bones were cracked instead of broken but still in perfect alignment, which meant no surgery; there was no pain from the moment I fell to the moment the doctor took the last x-ray to reveal that I was healed; God shared messages with me which I shared at a previous church; God helped me to learn to listen for His voice/presence; He taught me so much because He had my full attention! During the last doctor’s appointment, the x-ray technician told me that usually people with this type of fracture were in constant pain, but I had none. The doctor said that he saw no arthritis in the injured area, which was usually not the case!

During and after, I related the experience to many and shared what He took me through. It was hard for some to believe. They thought it was good luck. I shared that it was all God! It was a God-experience like no other I have ever had. Maybe someone heard that and felt strengthened and more confident about facing some trial in their life. Maybe they heard and felt a strengthening of their own faith from what I experienced. I know that I have been encouraged and empowered by others' God stories!

(photo taken pre-Covid19)

Let’s not be quick to stray from our faith just because we haven’t had that awe inspiring “God-experience” yet. Let’s listen to the stories of others which inspire us and help us learn more about our God, just as Pastor Mike is telling the children about God's creation of snowflakes. That’s why it is important to tell our stories.

Only God knows how it will impact others. “Do this so that your children who have not known these instructions will hear them and will learn to fear the Lord your God.”

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Easter!

Rachel