SURE | CERTAIN | SETTLED

Key Truth: Faith does not deny what I face it decides who I will trust while I face it. I am SURE of who God is, CERTAIN of what God can do, and SETTLED in my response.

Scripture Anchor:

Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:6

Consider This: Girlfriends, we have three days left in September and before we close out Pursue Faith, I want us to settle something. This month, we have talked a lot about faith; we have been challenged to believe, move, trust, obey, stand, and pursue.

But what happens when September ends and the situation doesn't?

What happens when you turn the calendar to October and the pain is still painful, the problem is still present, and the perplexity still has you asking, “God, what are You doing?”

Life has a way of showing you that some things are seasonal and if we keep walking, eventually the season changes. But can I pause and give you a glimpse into my life lately - some things are life-altering. There is a before this happened and an after this happened. And even when God carries us through it, life may never look exactly like it did before.

So, what does pursuing faith look like then? Hebrews 11:1 gives us two words that I shared on Thursday's prayer call that I want us to carry beyond September:

SURE and CERTAIN.

Faith is SURE of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we do not see. But being sure and certain requires a secure place to put our confidence and that place is GOD!

• Our faith begins with His character: He is who He says He is.

• Our faith rests in His capability: He can do what He says He can do.

Somewhere between what God has said and what we are currently seeing, our response has to become SETTLED; we must be sure of who God is!

Hebrews 11:6 says that anyone who comes to God must first believe “that He is.” Before I believe God will do, I have to believe God IS.

• He is faithful when life feels fragile.

• He is present in my pain.

• He is peace in my perplexity.

• He is greater than my problems.

• He is still God when I am experiencing His promises AND when I am waiting for them to materialize.

Ladies, our circumstances don't get to redefine God's character. He is who He says He is!

Hebrews 11:1 teaches us to have confidence concerning what we cannot yet see. That's where faith gets uncomfortable, because we LOVE evidence. We like confirmation. We like receipts (Come on, Amazon tracking number link!😂). We want to see it before we celebrate it.

However, faith says, “I may not see it yet, but I know my God.”

• I know He can heal.

• I know He can restore.

• I know He can provide.

• I know He can make a way.

• I know He can change the condition.

But mature faith also recognizes that God's capability does not cancel God's sovereignty. I can be completely CERTAIN that He can while trusting Him to decide how He will.

Lord, have mercy! That brings us to our response: Settled in my Y.E.S.!

This may be the hardest part:

• Can my response remain faithful to the Father when my reality is fearful?

• Can I pursue when I feel like I'm faltering?

• Can I believe after I've fallen?

• Can I celebrate the feats while still carrying the scars from the fight?

  
  

AND THE ANSWER IS YES! Not because we're always strong or that we always understand. Or better yet, not because every prayer ends the way we hoped, but because our faith is anchored in Someone greater than our circumstances.

Hebrews 11:6 doesn't say that perfect circumstances please God. It says FAITH pleases God. So, Girlfriend, whether you are experiencing pain or promise, whether you're perplexed by what God has permitted or praising Him for what He has performed, keep pursuing faith.

When fear comes, pursue faith. When you falter, pursue faith. When you fall, get back up and pursue faith. When God allows you to accomplish feats you once only prayed about, don't forget Him; pursue faith. Because faith isn't only for surviving hard seasons it is worth pursuing in every season.

We need faith when we're hurting AND when we're winning. We need faith when the prayer is pending AND when the promise is present. We need faith when we're waiting AND when we're walking in what we waited for.

So as September ends, Pursue Faith doesn't. Take these three words with you:

1. Sure

2. Certain

3. Settled

I am SURE of who God is, I am CERTAIN of what God can do and I am SETTLED in my response. Because my faith is not anchored in what God does for me, but it is anchored in who God is to me and that kind of faith pleases God.

Reflection Questions:

1. What am I facing right now that is challenging me to remain SURE of who God is?

2. Can I remain CERTAIN of God's capability without trying to control His response?

3. Has my faith changed depending on whether I'm experiencing pain or promise?

4. What area of my life needs a SETTLED YES to God?

Application:

Take a piece of paper and write three words:

SURE: Write one thing you know to be true about God's character.

CERTAIN: Write one thing you know God is able to do, even if you haven't seen it yet.

SETTLED: Write your response to God regardless of the outcome:

“Father, whether I face pain or experience Your promise, my YES belongs to You. I will pursue faith.”

Then carry those three words with you beyond September.

Prayer: Father, thank You for teaching me to pursue faith. In pain, perplexity, problems, and promise, keep my heart anchored in You. I am SURE of who You are and CERTAIN of what You can do. When fear comes, when I falter, when I fall, and when I experience great feats, let my faith continue to please You. Today, I settle my response: my YES belongs to You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Closing Declaration: I am SURE of who God is. I am CERTAIN of what God can do. I am SETTLED in my response. Whether I face pain or promise, fear or feats, my faith will not falter or fade because of what I face. September may end, but my pursuit of faith will not. My YES is settled.