Please believe. The love of the truth. That God really does want all to come to Him and be saved, and He's not trying to make it difficult. Jesus will do the saving and keeping, if you'll believe that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and resurrected on the third day. He is the savior, the prophesied Messiah who is fully qualified to do that for all who will believe on Him, and He desires to do so.
In the gospel, there is grace. Unmerited favor. You didn't do anything to deserve it or earn it, but rather it is a gift given freely by God, and that's the only way you can receive it, freely, as a gift. It's not for sale.
Some may present long lists of things you must understand and persist in to be saved, putting burdens on people to be saved that Jesus has placed on no one, as if it's the understanding that's keeping them saved, some kind of trick of the mind. That's not it. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, physically came and was crucified, dying for your sins, was buried, and physically resurrected from the dead after 3 days. If you'll believe on Him, He will save you, and He will keep you. None of us keep ourselves saved through our understandings or the good works that God does in us and for us. Jesus physically keeps us.
There are lots of things we may not understand when we believe and are saved that are no less true of us. And it's the work of God to guide us and lead us and help us. If you've believed, you are eternally secure, even if you've struggled with that.
Do you think the thief on the cross understood that he was eternally secure, and that his past, present, and future sins were all forgiven? I think that's doubtful. But he did believe on Jesus, and Jesus saved him. And even if he didn't understand, those things were still true of him.
The faith God has given you in your salvation, the peace and rest and assurance that Jesus has saved you and is keeping you. You are righteous before God always, and in fellowship with God always, only because of the finished work of Christ. Jesus has qualified you and made you righteous. You didn't do it. And if He's done some good work in you, that work He's done hasn't qualified you or made you more saved, or more righteous with God, either. That's something God has freely done for you.
God is no respecter of persons. All who have believed on Jesus, are just as saved and can approach God in confidence.
Some people think they have more favor with God, because they're not sinning, or because they're better, or they've been saved longer, or whatever. You're either saved or you're not. It's faith alone. If your foundation isn't faith in Christ alone, you're on quicksand.
There are people without Jesus that understand faith is important. But sadly their faith is not rooted in Jesus. They have faith in themselves, or some vague universal law or power. And there are demonic spirits that will entertain them all the way to their own destruction. Anything they attain will be lost. The things of this world are temporary, anyway.
Our faith is rooted in Jesus alone. And our God is the real, physical God. Not a concept or a metaphor. And the strength we have comes from God, not ourselves.
For us, God's grace is always sufficient, in all circumstances. Hurt, sick, beaten down, depressed. You can trust that He has you.
You can also have faith that God is a good God and He desires good things for you. He desires to heal you, and He desires to help you.
The grace of God, and faith that He desires to deliver you and do a good work for you are not mutually exclusive. Just because His grace is sufficient in a difficult situation doesn't exclude the knowledge and faith that God also desires to heal you, deliver you, and do a good thing for you.
And if you pray, and have faith, and it isn't done, it doesn't mean God doesn't desire to do that thing for you. And it doesn't mean God is condemning you, either, and neither do I.
If a son of God shows up and prays and exercises faith, no matter what, praise God. Little s son of God. That's you, if you've believed on Jesus.
Faith is a work of God in us, and just as we teach our children and also give them space to grow and make mistakes and learn, we also always desire good things for them.
God is teaching us, and we're learning. He's trying to teach us to have faith, and that we can trust Him in all things, not doubting. This isn't something that's required of us, but it's ours to seek, if we choose to. If you're struggling to have assurance of your salvation, or just at rest in your assurance, these things should be helpful for faith in general, also. It's that faith that's the foundation, and without it nothing else can be built on top of it.
Faith and praise go hand-in-hand. What does it mean to praise God, or to worship God? Some just see it as singing songs, but it's not just that. At it's core, praise and worship is about extolling the power and virtue of God. Even in your mind, your focus, and in your words, all the time. God is good, and all powerful, and you are righteous before Him, always. His power is in you, and He desires good things for you. He is on your side, and He is fighting for you, and with you. What is it to praise someone, but to speak well of them, of their good nature? This praise supports the faith that God has put in you. Your eyes fixed on Jesus, and His finished work, for you.
Isaiah 53 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Philippians 4 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
This isn't something there is ever really any end to. There is always reason to praise God, and always reason to have faith. You may get tired at times, and that is OK. But please don't give up and choose to curse God just because you're tired, deciding those good things of His nature aren't really true. Have some reverence for the power of God. Take a rest, but let your last thought be fixed on that praise and the faith you have, and leave it in Jesus hands. It's His work, after all, that He will do in you, and through you. The faith is still there. Rest, but don't give up. And when the Spirit rises in you again, praise God, and be fixed on your faith. This is the way it is, like waves, pushing back and forth. Even when you're at rest, if it comes to you, or there's any doubt, remember these things, and be insistent.
Some may come against the faith you have or mock it, even saved people. Don't let them discourage you or stop you. No matter what happens, God is pleased with faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. They may say it's too damaging to tell somebody God desires to heal them, because then if they're not healed, they may be hurt or struggle to understand why. There is no blame and there is no condemnation. This isn't easy. But I won't deny the true words of Jesus and the power of God to appease man. I believe these are questions God wants us to ask, and seek answers for, even if it seems hard.
We see Jesus healing people and performing miracles. But we pray and it's not so easy, is it? Jesus is God, and we're not. But we are found in Christ, and He has given us power and authority in His name, if we'll believe it. For us, it would seem to take time, a learning process, a growing trust and faith in Jesus, in who we are in Him. And we are found in Christ, underneath Him, hopefully found seeking to do the will of the Father in heaven, just as He does.
John 14 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
We've all probably related to Peter at times, seeing Jesus walk on the water, and so we go out to meet Him, but we have doubt, and pretty soon we start to sink. But Jesus is with us. We can trust Him. We're not alone.
The work of God in us will be made manifest. We will be born. Wherever we find ourselves, whether here, or in the place Jesus has prepared for us in heaven, these things are true of us.
Romans 8 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.