To waver. This is not a word we use much in day-to-day language. It means to fluctuate; to move to and fro; or to become unsteady or start to give way; to feel or show doubt; to become weak and falter.
To waver is also changing your belief or your opinion, what we would call being “double-minded”, or “not able to make up your mind.” People who cannot make up their mind what they believe, are frustrating, Elijah said to the people in 1 Kings 18:21
“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
We all go through seasons when our faith is not strong, when we question what we believe. We may doubt God, limit Him to a portion of our life, even flat-out not believe Him, but to waver is to not take a stand on what we believe. This is when the bible would describe our faith as wavering. James uses the word in James 1:6 (AMP) when he addresses us as believers who are praying:
Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.
Wavering faith is a split loyalty, or when our feet are on “both sides of the fence.” This is what it sounds like in our speech:
- I believe Jesus, but I also believe in me, my own abilities and what I can do.
- I believe Jesus, but a little more money would go a long way in helping me..
- I believe Jesus, but people can make a difference you know, people can help you, so I am going to talk to… see… visit…
- I believe Jesus, but I have a plan that will ….
- I believe Jesus, but just by chance this happened and …
Whenever we believe and something else is added, we have split loyalties. James is telling us to choose one side only, to put our faith in the character of Christ alone. He is asking us to do this because it impacts our asking in prayer, God responds to faith that believes who God is.
We cannot change loyalties, based on how the wind blows:
- How our personal circumstances are, or become.
- The resolutions we make where our own will and determination would play a role.
- The changes that happen in our environment or the people we are associated with.
- Our own abilities, what we have learnt to do.
- The people who come into our lives that influence us and have an impact on us.
When our trust and loyalty is split, the result is that our faith is “blown and tossed” by the winds of life.
Abraham is an example of unwavering faith. Rom 4:20
“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
He did not waver, but instead grew stronger and stronger in faith. It was:
- God vs his own body (his impotence and Sarah’s age)
- God vs his own reasoning
- God vs the apparent lack of hope in the situation
- God and His promises vs the amount of time that has passed since the promise was given.
Abraham did not tolerate a split loyalty in his heart, he chose a side and stuck with it (no questions asked). How did he do this? He maintained a conviction, being “fully persuaded,” of God and His character, “able to do what He had promised.”
As a result he grew stronger in his faith (his ability to believe and not doubt) and was further empowered by his faith to finally give praise and glory to God by his faith.
- What would it look like for you to maintain a conviction and be fully persuaded about God’s person and ability in your life?
- Have you had split loyalties in what you believe? What would need to change in your thinking to bring you to an unwavering faith?
- Has your faith been blown by the wind? Have you ever considered on who or what you rely?
Oh Lord, show me where my heart is divided, where I trust you, but I have my own backup plans. Help me to recognize how my own behavior and thinking undermines my complete trust in you. Show me what else I rely on, instead of relying on you. May you be the only rock I build my life on, to be sure that I will stand in faith in all circumstances.
If you enjoyed this post, why not click on some of the posts listed under the tag: faith.
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