As believers of the almighty God we can experience greater peace, joy and comfort. It is by having a steadfast heart. Greater joy, peace and comfort signify our deeper trust and confidence in God. They are greater when they are never out of our heart. They are increasingly present in any and all our circumstances. In other words, we have joy upon joy, peace upon peace and comfort upon comfort; we need them. Because, truthfully speaking, difficulties, temptations and sufferings are part of life. God has not called us that they are indelible in us. But He has called us that we overcome them just as He has. As often as we face them we see life as being difficult. Yet, in all these He avails us greater joy, peace and comfort by a steadfast heart. It means even in times of hardships and need He is with us; we know He is working for us toward His good pleasure.
A steadfast heart multiplies glory to God. David in the Spirit said, “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul” (Ps. 108:1). To be steadfast is to be unwavering, resolute, immovable or established. An unwavering heart is one that has depended on the Lord and obtained His mercy. Imagine a wavering heart, i.e. one without joy, peace and comfort at all times. It means he is not dependent on the Lord in everything. It means there are times he chooses to act on his own, seek counsel other than the Lord’s, do not trust the Lord to pull him through or feels there is no way out. He has an unstable life, a life of uncertainty. Then, his blessing or praising God cannot always be pure or be from his soul. But if we know that with God life is never uncertain, even in storms and unpredictable times, we can have a steadfast heart. We meet His wish; for it benefits Him the most so that we also benefit. Firstly, it gives Him much joy seeing the strength of our trust in Him, i.e. seeing our very existence is by Him. Second, He takes immense pleasure at our praise of Him.
Our very existence is for God. If anyone thinks otherwise, he or she does not receive a blessing from God. Often many believers fail to live by the fact that their existence is for God when they begin facing various circumstances. At these times they fail to experience the heavenly joy, peace and comfort. Yet, the very nature of a heart that is steadfast is that it knows it exists for God by having obtained confidence from Him. Now, having understood a steadfast heart, see what it means or what greater joy, peace and comfort mean to us.
- We can know we have a future laid out for us by God, i.e. better things await us
- We can know there will be a breakthrough in our life
- We can know that victory over our adversaries is near, i.e. whatever shame or insult we have been through, God does justice by rewarding us
- We know we can make plans and set goals for our future
- We can know that in all our endeavors the Lord will be with us
- We know we can be steadfast even in times of prosperity
So, while we are yet to receive a future, we are already convinced of it through God’s will. This is an indication to perfect reliance upon God, and nothing gives Him more joy than it. Then, what about sin, doubt, fear and weakness? The steadfast heart shatters them all. We are called to behold the greatness of the Lord. “They were utterly astonished, saying, ‘He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak’” (Mark 7:37). God came in the flesh for the very reason that people possess a heart that is steadfast. Jesus is still able to do mighty things for us. The things He did while on earth are evidence to who God is and to His capability. God is love and He is able to do all things for those whom He loves. When this is the case, circumstances should not be overwhelming to us; they should not turn us away from depending on God; they should not bind us in fear and doubt. Once we succumb to them, it becomes Satan’s prerogative to lead us away from God’s will. This is sin and will lead us to greater sin.
The world has changed. It has taken a dramatic transformation with all the technology, science and inventions. It appears that man has even more choices than God. And as men are choosing them, sin, disobedience, rebellion and truth alteration have become prevalent. What could this result in except a drastic decrease in God’s association with man? As believers we must always be alert to put God first in our life. In these days we need to focus much more on His mercy for a steadfast heart. Use the technology, science and inventions, but in accordance with His will and to His glory. Jesus can do all things well; He makes all things well and a steadfast heart knows it. No matter how fast the world around us moves and confuses and tempts us to join it, it is heartening to realize God is always in control of time, circumstances and over all creation. The world around us can become more perverse, but with a steadfast heart we can have a better future than it. So, let us consider what we can do to possess it.
- Cultivate a pure heart to approach God. “But Jesus called for them, saying, ‘Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these’” (Luke 18:16). God’s kingdom not only refers to heaven, but to His power and presence. Consider the inbuilt quality of children who can do all these without sin:
- They speak everything in their mind to parents.
- Anything they need, they ask. Though they sometimes do not know what they are asking, they still ask and obtain a rightful answer. Many times they receive when they ask. They learn by asking.
- They complain and believe they will be heard.
- They are innocent with all their thoughts and works.
- Trust God to provide a breakthrough. “When Peter came to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting’” (Acts 12:11)
- Believe that God does not squander His purposeful calling of us. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” (2 Cor. 2:14).
- Endure in order to handle righteously the better things. “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (Jam. 1:3). Difficulties and trials turn us into better people.
- Believe that God always gives us victory. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).