From the Editor

A Faith of Substance

STACEY MCKENZIE

Jesus’s Promises Will Endure

A Christian music class participant once asked me: “Miss, how did you keep your commitment to Jesus over a long period of time?”

I didn’t have to think very long about the answer.

“I really don’t feel like I can take any of the credit. At all the right times, He always came along to encourage me, and I took to heart whatever He said or did and discerned Him leading me in the right direction.” I described that I would often come across the perfect Scripture passage for my situation at random or receive a divinely timed phone call from a friend with a word of knowledge or wisdom (1 Corinthians 12:7-8). Sometimes, a series of events would point me to a clear path when I was losing focus or getting discouraged. Over time, I recognized that Jesus is true to His promise to His followers: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b, NLT). God’s Spirit not only lights up our way (John 8:12) but empowers us to live through every possible life situation while still working in us and through us to accomplish His purposes that will last forever (Ephesians 3:20).

If you are reading this and it feels hard to be hopeful, may I offer some reminders that might help you to keep holding on? Drawing on what we know to be true of God can help us to keep moving forward in times when we’re not sure about much else. Pausing to appreciate nature can give us insight into God’s quiet, creative faithfulness. His power is always at work in the world. Our beautiful sunrises that emerge globally from east to west every morning, matched by equally beautiful evening sunsets, have never failed. They testify to Jesus’s beauty and faithfulness in sustaining the universe by His Word (Hebrews 1:3). If He can sustain the universe, how much more easily can He sustain us?

Woman in work wear stands in front of mirrored buildings Jesus provided purification for our sins by His death on the cross and came to life again. Having overcome sin and death, He can now keep our hearts in the Way, even under intense pressure. The Apostle Paul testified to this while he was under trial (Acts 24:14-15). Christ perfects His work in our hearts as we surrender to His leading, timing and design for our lives and circumstances. He understands perfectly what we are experiencing and why (Hebrews 4:14-16). We can trust Him to receive us as we bring our challenges to Him and to bless every act of service we do in faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11). He promises a better tomorrow, which we can hold on to in confidence, not being sure of how it will happen but knowing we can trust Him (Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 1:6).

If you have not yet committed yourself to Jesus, He is at work even now to bring you into relationship with Him (John 6:35-40). If you’re feeling too weak to continue on, His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). If you are feeling down and out, depressed by life circumstances, search God’s Word and be encouraged in faith. Even the smallest of actions prompted by the Spirit can help bring about a complete change that only He can get the credit for.

In Christianity Today, writer and artist Lindsay Holifield describes her journey of faith. After starting in a Christian context, she experienced discouragement and fear, followed by an exploration of faith traditions that did not honour Jesus. Ultimately, He drew her back to Himself:

I have always sought a faith of substance, something that could come against the powers of evil in this world and not be shaken or knocked over. I wanted a better story that could truly speak to humanity’s cry for justice with a clear, strong voice. I wanted good news that was good news, not bland moralism, or fragile hope. … In Jesus, I have finally found the answer I sought over the years—or rather, I should say that he found me.¹

As we are able, let’s offer whatever encouragement we can to others, knowing that God will be faithful to encourage us as well (Hebrews 10:25; Proverbs 11:25).

This article appeared in the January/February/March 2025 issue of testimony/Enrich, a quarterly publication of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. © 2025 The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Photo © istockphoto.com.