Believe in Yourself, God’s Word, and His Spirit Within You
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, it wasn’t just our health systems that were tested; it was our faith, our convictions, and our sense of direction. In times of crisis, people naturally look to leaders for guidance. For Christians, that means turning to spiritual leaders for clarity and assurance rooted in God’s Word.
But during that season, I noticed something deeply unsettling. Many of the Christian leaders I respected were not speaking with one voice. Some seemed more confused and frightened than I was. That’s when I stopped looking outward and turned inward. That was a wake-up call. When the voices around you offer no clarity, you must ask yourself: What do I believe? What is my anchor? Where is my faith rooted?
So I said to myself, “Richard, you know the Scriptures. You also have the Holy Spirit within you. So what’s the problem? All you need is the courage to believe in yourself, to believe in His Word, and to believe in His Spirit within you.”
I remember that during the pandemic, my position was in the minority. Some even thought I wasn’t being “real.” But I chose to stand on God’s Word, regardless of what the news was saying. It was a conscious decision. And know this: belief is also a choice. Joshua made his choice when he said to the Israelites:
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15
Today, as I look at how things have unfolded in the world, I feel deeply proud of the stand I took and every decision I made.
Let me remind you: God’s Word is true. Never let what you see or hear shake your faith. Even when it doesn’t make clear sense, believe it! “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” — 1 Corinthians 1:25
Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Many people, including religious leaders, only believed when they saw the vaccine. They had to see a sign, a token, before they could believe. They can’t hold on to the pure word of God, the written and spoken word. I hope lessons have been learnt. Just like Peter learnt his after denying Jesus three times because of fear. And so we say: NEVER AGAIN!
