Craig Clouston

Shaken Into The Unshakable

These have come so that your faith—may be proved genuine.

1Peter 1:7

It had been two years since Lawrence and Kimberly had said goodbye to their six year-old son in the local ER following a freak accident. Hoses and lines still attached, they had been given a few minutes before their son’s lifeless body was transferred to the morgue for an autopsy.

Ayden had somehow slipped into the narrow space between the cargo net and decking of their jungle gym—an expansion zone set up to allow movement—his head had become lodged, resulting in suffocation.

Life had slowly resumed, they had moved past the deepest heartache and had found some semblance of normalcy; life had prevailed. Thinking back on the tragic event, Lawrence admitted to a time of blaming God for Ayden’s death. But anger over the loss of a child is no stranger to blame. God certainly understood. Lawrence also had to admit, had it not been for his faith having been tested and shaken time and again prior to his son’s death, he might have walked away from God.

But God had remained close through it all. He assured them through the details of life that He was ever-present. The two years had strengthened their faith and relationships. He and Kimberly were excited about their current situation; Kimberly was pregnant!

†

Our faith will be tested; and in many cases shaken. But that shaking causes a process by which our faith becomes unshakable. There are physical rewards for those who lift weights and work out; their muscles gain strength and endurance. Their hearts grow stronger and will tolerate more stress.

The same principles hold true in spiritual application. Perseverance in the midst of spiritual trials builds spiritual muscle and endurance! If we continue to persevere our strength and understanding become solid and unshakable and our hearts will tolerate more emotional stress.

It is impossible to experience trials without having our faith tested and shaken. By placing our hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the shaking will produce a faith that’s unshakable.

Prayer

“Your word says these trials are for my development, LORD, but sometimes it hurts more than words can explain. In those times hold me close, LORD; carry me through to the other side. Amen.”