Let’s begin this week’s devotion by encouraging our hearts with one of my favorite verses. 2 Corinthians 5:7 reads, “For we live by believing, and not by seeing.”

The NKJV of the verse puts it this way:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

There are some days, though, when I don’t feel like I’m walking by faith at all. Days when I’m searching for that faith I know is real, that I know I need. What do you do when you lack faith? Most of the time I’m able to hold onto God, even though I can’t physically see Him. But when trials come, my ability to stay faith-filled is tested.

How can I strengthen my weak faith?

God knew we would have these moments, and He gave us help in His Word to encourage us when weakness threatens the trust we have in Him. Great men and women throughout history had times when their faith waned. And from their stories, we can find the help we need to restore ours.

These 3 words will help us when our faith is weak.

For you said...

“Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’ In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.” Numbers 14:17-19 NLT

In this passage, the Israelites were (once again) complaining and wanting to turn around and return to Egypt. The Lord’s anger rose against them, but Moses intervened. He reminded himself, and the Lord, of His promises.

What do you do when you lack faith?

We all experience those times when we don’t see how God could possibly work things out.

Our minds swirl with thoughts like…

I don’t know how anything good can come from this.

How could God allow this to happen?

How are we going to get through this?

Some days we will feel weak in our faith. We will struggle to trust God in our circumstances.

Let’s not fall prey to the lie that says if we are good Christians, we won’t experience days of weak faith. We will, and that’s okay. For it’s in those days we learn to rely on Him more than ever before.

My weakness in faith reminds me to renew my trust in God’s strength.

For you said, I am your chosen child.

For you said, you will never leave me.

For you said, you will guide and protect me.

God’s Word promises, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). So we can rely on His strength even more when our faith is weak. Let’s remind ourselves of His unfailing love today by starting with these 3 words. For you said...

I share more about applying the truth of these verses to our moments of doubt in chapter 6 of my new book, Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God, including this passage below:

“Even though the Israelites refused to accept the promise God offered, that didn’t stop a faithful few from praying. Aaron and Moses cried out to their Lord what they new to be true… Although it looked as if the plan was delayed, the leaders continued to live as if God wouldn’t fail.” - Cinched book

To find out more about the Cinched book, visit the book page here.

TODAY begins the 5 day countdown to the release of my new book, Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God.

In honor of this 5-day countdown to the book’s release, I’m sharing DAY ONE of my popular email study, the Walking with Rahab: 5-Day Challenge to Better Decision-Making.

How to Become a Better Decision-Maker

Learning to let go of control and becoming a better decision-maker go hand-in-hand. Below you’ll find the first day of this mini study, which looks at the life of Rahab and what we can learn from her story.

(I will only be sharing DAY ONE here on our weekly devotions page. But at the end of today's post, you'll find information on how to access the rest of the 5-day mini study.)

DAY ONE: CALMING THE DECISION-MAKING CHAOS

This morning I took a break in the back yard to enjoy a rare cool breeze on an otherwise humid summer day.

Pretty soon, my 13-year-old dog Teddy trotted toward me with a turtle in his mouth. Teddy loves chasing turtles. It was perfectly safe in that hard shell, but Teddy sure seemed proud of his find. He dropped it at my feet, where I rescued it and released it in a nearby lake.

You know, sometimes Teddy lets go of the turtle immediately, while other times he holds on to it, even with coaxing from me. At those times, I have to find a treat to offer him so he'll give up the prized turtle.

I can be a lot like Teddy when it comes to decisions.

Sometimes I hold onto a decision far too long. I stress and agonize over it, only to end up even more frustrated and no closer to making that decision. Other times, I don't wait on God. My impatience drives me to make a choice too quickly.

Either way, I rarely feel at peace over the decision once it’s made.

When I allow those feelings of worry and uncertainty to end up in frustration, I drift away from God’s will. I put a barrier between me and the Spirit who longs to guide me through those tough choices.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:12-13 NKJV

Allowing ourselves to be led by the Spirit gives us peace in knowing He is with us when we face difficult decisions.

Allow me to introduce you to a bold woman in Scripture who made a life-changing decision God's way. As we follow her story over the next 5 days, we will learn 5 truths to remember that will help us be better decision-makers too.

“And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, ‘Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.’” Joshua 2:1-2 ESV

Rahab is described as a prostitute, or harlot (NKJV). However, many theologians believe at this point in Rahab’s life, she had “repented and reformed.” (Matthew Henry Commentary)

Right after the spies came to Rahab’s home, someone went and told the king about it. Talk about nosy neighbors! I’m certain this didn’t surprise Rahab at all. In fact, whoever shared Rahab’s secret probably thought they were doing the right thing by informing the king. But I want us to notice an important detail here.

Verse 4 says, “But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them.”

Rahab didn’t wait before hiding the men in a safe place. She didn't take time to weigh out her options. She didn’t pause to see what would happen, then hurry around in response to the king’s request. No, the minute they arrived, she planned their escape.

She acted immediately.

So how did she know what to do? Wasn’t she confused? Frantic? It seems like I try and try to be steadfast in the middle of uncertainty, but I just can’t find that boldness like Rahab.

What was it that drove her ability to make decisions with confidence?

"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken." Psalm 55:22 NIV

When we release control to God and allow His Spirit to guide us through the decision-making process, we allow God's peace to calm the frustration and confusion.

But when I worry and agonize over a decision, I unknowingly take control away from the Holy Spirit and give it back to myself.

By daily releasing control to God, we are allowing His peace to calm the decision-making chaos in our minds.

And just like Rahab, we can learn to walk in immediate obedience.

Sometimes we will sense the Holy Spirit guiding us to make a decision right away, like Rahab did at that moment. Other times there will be waiting involved. As we go through this 5-day study, we will learn more about how to walk through the process of those decisions with steadfast assurance. But for now, lets begin by holding onto this truth:

Today’s Truth Declaration is this:

By daily releasing control to God, we allow His peace to calm the decision-making chaos.

DAY TWO of the mini study ventures into even more of Rahab's story. Would you like to receive the rest of this free 5-day study?

Visit the challenge page here.

At the end of the 5 days, you will also receive the free Scripture-based prayer for better decision-making. (Did I mention it's all free?)

Have you already read the study? Does the message of Rahab’s steadfast faith in God resonate with you? Then watch for Friday’s release of my new book all about the life of Rahab. I also share how her life inspired my own, sending me on a journey to a deeper trust in God. Read more about the book here.