Hold On to Faith
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
Trials strengthen our faith and bring us closer to the Lord.

A steadfast faith ranks at the top of God’s system of priorities. Without it, He says, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). I (JCD) am reminded of a woman named Marian Benedict Manwell, whose brain was damaged permanently by a broken spring that penetrated her head as a baby. She was crippled for life. Other kids taunted her and mocked her deformity. When Marian was ten, her mother died of cancer. Despite—or more likely because of—these difficulties, Marian developed a deep faith in Christ. She eventually married a wonderful Christian husband and was blessed with eight children, all of whom grew up serving the Lord.

I’m not suggesting it’s easy to welcome misfortune into your life. I grieve for those who are confronting the loss of a loved one or some other terrible situation tonight. I can only say that it is God’s will for us to be thankful in all circumstances and that He understands our pain: “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh” (Luke 6:21). Hold on to your faith, teach your children to do the same, and He will sustain you and your family.

Before you say good night…


Lord, how can we teach faith to our children if we don’t show it when troubles or hardships crash into our world? Help us to cling to You every day—with all our hearts—so that our kids will learn what it means to grow in faith. Amen.

Dr James Dobson