September 24
Standing Firm
in Faith
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be treated badly."
2 Timothy 3:12 (NIrV)
Thomas had never felt so alive. Since giving his life to Christ a few weeks ago, something inside him had changed. He saw the world differently. Sunday mornings at church filled him with peace, and reading the Bible at night gave him a sense of hope he had never known before.
But not everyone saw it that way.
“So, you really believe in some old man in the sky?” Liam, his oldest friend, scoffed as they sat at their usual bar. The others at the table chuckled.
“The Bible’s just a bunch of fairy tales, mate,” Jason added, sipping his beer. “People believed that stuff in the Dark Ages. We’ve got science now.”
Tom shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “It’s not like that,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. “It’s... it’s about faith.”
Liam smirked. “Faith? You mean believing in something without proof? C’mon, Tom, you’re smarter than that.”
“Look,” Jason leaned in, “when we die, that’s it. No heaven, no hell. No magic sky guy waiting for us. Just darkness. You seriously think logical people in this day and age still believe in all that?”
Thomas forced a laugh, but something inside him twisted. He had never been the type to argue, and now, under the weight of their words, doubt crept in.
That night, as he lay in bed, their voices echoed in his mind. Am I being naive? he wondered. What if they’re right? What if I’ve just been fooling myself?
The next morning, he woke up feeling heavy. He knew it was Sunday, but for the first time since becoming a Christian, he didn’t go to church. Instead, he sat at home, scrolling mindlessly through his phone, trying to push the uncertainty away.
Then, a message popped up. It was from Daniel, a guy he had met at church.
Hey brother, missed you at church today. Everything okay?
Tom hesitated, then typed back: Just feeling a little unsure about things. Some friends got in my head.
A few minutes later, Daniel replied: That’s normal, man. Following Jesus isn’t easy. People will push back, but don’t let that shake you. Read 2 Timothy 3:12. Let’s meet up this week?
Tom sighed and looked up the verse. “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be treated badly.”
He swallowed hard. Maybe this doubt, this pushback, was part of the journey. Maybe faith wasn’t about having all the answers but holding on even when things got tough.
He closed his eyes. God, I don’t have it all figured out, but help me stand firm. I don’t want to turn away just because it’s hard. Give me strength.
When he opened his eyes, the doubt hadn’t vanished, but something inside him felt stronger. He texted Daniel back. Yeah, let’s meet up. I think I need that.
Next Sunday, he would be back at church.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for reminding us that following You won’t always be easy.
Help us stand firm in our faith when doubts creep in and when others question what we believe.
Give us courage to trust You, even when the world tells us not to.
Surround us with people who encourage us in our walk with You, and strengthen us when we feel weak.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
