Keep The Faith 
 
            We all may not feel the presence of God, but it’s our faith that enables us to know that He is still there and that He is still God in the midst of our situation. 
            Sometimes I feel like God isn't even around.  Then there are times when I feel the manifestation of God's power. At those times, I know without a shadow-of-a-doubt that God is present. At those times, I know that I am in right standing with God and that He is happy with me.   It’s not the times that we can feel God that our faith is put to the test, but it’s the times that we don’t feel God that our faith is put to the test. 
            We’re all familiar with the story of Job.  Job was the man!!  Even God Himself referred to Job as “a perfect and an upright man” (Job 1:8 KJV).   He was a wealthy man; the Bible notes that he “was the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:3 KJV).  God’s presence and protection was evident in Job’s life.  THEN…..old “slew foot” [the devil] shows up!!
            Job has no idea of what is going on behind the scenes.  He doesn’t know the dialogue between the devil and God.  All Job knows is that he is going through a major storm that consists of wave after wave of troubles.  He loses his possessions, then he loses his children, then he loses his health.  As a direct result of his previous losses, he loses the respect of others.  He questions God and even blames God, but he keeps his faith.  Naturally, when we face adversity, trials, and tribulations, we seek to cast the blame.  If it’s not on God, it’s on someone else.  Remember Adam and Eve?  Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the serpent. 
            It’s not what we go through that’s critiqued by God, but it is how we go through what we go through.  What is our hearts position when we face opposition?  Do we stand on the Word? Do we keep the Faith?
            The Apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh and asked the Lord three times to remove it from him:
            For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And he said unto
            me, My grace is sufficient for thee:  for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most
            gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
            Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
            distresses for Christ's sake:  for when I am weak, then I am strong.
            (II Corithians 13: 8-10 KJV)                                                                                                                           What an outstanding ATTITUDE!!!!  To know that the times when we are going through that God is at His best and strongest in our lives.                                                                                              Let’s go back to Job’s story.  After Job loses his possessions, his sons, and his daughters, the Bible says Job  "feel down upon the ground, and worshipped" (Job 1:20 KJV).  After he was afflicted in his body, his wife told him to "curse God, and die," but he didn’t (Job 2:9 KJV). 
            We must have an unmovable spirit in the midst of our storms.  Sure it’s easier said than done, but it’s doable.  We have the Power; we have the Holy Ghost.  We're not always going to feel saved or feel anointed, but it’s keeping the faith that enables us to know that WE ARE despite the external circumstances.  We all are going to go through, but what separates the men from the boys, the women from the girls, and the Saints from the Aints are the ones that keep the faith and endure till the end.  
            Keep your head up and stick your chest out through those times, because you have the Lord on your side.  Saints, you have to talk and walk this life or it will be as faith without works... DEAD.
            Will you keep the faith?  Will you know that, "No weapon that is formed against you shall be able to prosper..." (Isaiah 54:17 KJV)?  Will you be like Job in the midst of your trouble and be able to say, “For I know that my redeemer liveth…” (Job 19:25 KJV) ?  
 
 
“…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” ( Hebrews 13:5 KJV)