Believe even in the midst of complexity

God moves in various and subtle ways in the human realm. Divine involvement or purpose is not always clear in the situations we experience every day. The promises of the Word do not always begin to manifest in our favor immediately when the problem or need arises. Many times, between the believer's cry and God's response, other things arise that complicate and seem to even contradict the principles and promises of the Word.

On top of all this, the wrong patterns and models of faith that we sometimes hold make us feel confused when we are going through times of trial. As a consequence, we sometimes fail to understand the complex, nuanced movements of God in our lives.

Many times, in our own daily lives, God's miraculous move manifests itself in very subtle and long-term ways, so that it is difficult to discern what spiritual principles apply in these complex dimensions of faith. Sometimes it is difficult to discern whether it is God, Satan, or mere coincidence that is intervening in our circumstances.

At other times, the dynamics of faith occur in ways we don't normally associate with the plain and simple patterns that Scripture shows us.

• At times, for example, it will seem that God has not heard our prayers, or has remained indifferent to our need. Despite this, we will have to exercise faith, believing that God is sovereign and loves us, and that He always knows what He is doing.

• Sometimes we will pray about something, and we will receive a different answer than we expected. Still, this will involve a move of faith on our part, making it necessary for us to believe that it is God who is working on this unexpected result anyway.

• At other times, we will have to wait a long time before we see the answer to our prayers. In that case, faith will manifest itself through our patience and perseverance in prayer.

• At times, God will put us through the crucible of pain and suffering, and we will go through circumstances that seem to contradict his faithfulness and power. But this will also be part of the dynamics of faith, just not in the easy and obvious way that we are used to seeing God move in our lives.

However, either simply or with a degree of greater complexity, it will always be the spiritual principles that the Word declares that should determine how we navigate any difficult situation in our life. Once we have understood these scriptural principles, no matter how complex or contradictory what we are experiencing may seem, we must keep firmly attached to what we have learned from studying the Word. This firm adherence to what the Word of God declares will allow us to emerge victorious from any difficult situation that we may face.

When life or circumstances seem to belie what you think you know about God, lean on what the Word says and confidently declare: "It is written!" No matter how long it takes, God will be faithful, and his principles will never fail. Even though you walk in the valley of the shadow of death, hold fast to the trustworthy promises of God's Word. They will be a light in your life, and they will always get you to safety. "We also have the most secure prophetic word, to which you do well to be attentive like a torch that shines in a dark place, until the day brightens and the morning star rises in your hearts."