Faith in Time of Affliction

“Let us learn from Paul the lesson of a dauntless faith.

“Far too many people have only fair-weather faith, but no faith for stormy weather. They build their ship of Christian faith only for smooth seas and clear skies; then, when the tempest rises on the sea of life, the poor vessel goes to pieces and sinks despairingly in the waves.

“Have you ever thought about it that faith which will bear no testing by trial is really no faith at all? We do not need faith when the way is perfectly clear, for then we have knowledge and sight. It is only when the way grows dark and perilous, so that we cannot see the path clearly before us, that we need to exercise trust in God, and lay our hand confidingly in His. Oh! we must not let ourselves grow disheartened when afflictions come. Then is when we need faith to comfort and sustain us. Therefore Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God and believe in Me.” Yes, faith in God and in Jesus Christ is the cure for all our sorrows; for, armed with such faith, we know that “all things work together for good to them that love God.”

From: Keyser, Leander. In The Apostles' Footsteps: Sermons on the Epistle Lessons for the Church Year. The Lutheran Literary Board: 1920. Lutheran Library edition forthcoming