When I fear my faith will fail

“Then Zedekiah the king sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance of the house of the Lord. And the king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you something. Hide nothing from me.” ¹⁵Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.” ¹⁶So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying, “As the Lord lives, who made our very souls, I will not put you to death, nor will I give you into the hand of these men who seek your life.” ¹⁷Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘If you surely surrender to the king of Babylon’s princes, then your soul shall live; this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. ¹⁸But if you do not surrender to the king of Babylon’s princes, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans; they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.’ ” ¹⁹And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have defected to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they abuse me.” ²⁰But Jeremiah said, “They shall not deliver you. Please, obey the voice of the Lord which I speak to you. So it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live.” Jeremiah 38:14-20 NKJV

Father and Lord,

Poor Zedekiah. He is between a rock and a hard place and the only person who will tell him the truth is Jeremiah who always says what he does not want to hear. Zedekiah just wants everything to be OK again and be safe in his little luxurious palace. I know how he feels. Especially those days when two, three or four things go wrong or break or are not fixable. Sometimes it is the little things that get us down! A puncture on a Sunday evening. The fridge defrosting itself . . . We need home to be our safe place even if not so luxurious.

It is an honest person who can admit they are afraid. Afraid of not being able to cope with a big situation or even a small one. Zedekiah admits his fear but does not want to do what is right and safest. So what he feared came upon Zedekiah and worse. (Jeremiah 39:1-8). All his sons were killed before him and he was blinded and taken to Babylon. Help us, when we are afraid, to seek You Lord and wise godly counsel. Not to leave ourselves isolated where the enemy can surround and terrorise us (1 Peter 5:8). To hear Your Holy Spirit’s guidance. To listen and follow His lead.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 3rd August 2026
I thought I had used this this year – but have not. It is probably that I listen to it or sing the chorus when I need a faith hug.

When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast

Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast

For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
‘Til our faith is turned to sight
When he comes at last

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast

Repeat chorus twice

Lyrics: Ada R. Habershon(1906) and modernised by Matt Merker (2013).

“Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” ¹⁶Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. ¹⁷Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. ¹⁸Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” ¹⁹And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” ²⁰So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.” Genesis 29:15-20 NKJV

Father God,

The schemer Jacob was outmanoeuvred or rather out scammed here! Leah was given to him in the dark after the revelling and then he had to promise to do another 7 years hard labour for Rachel even though she was given in marriage the next week. And he agreed. I wonder how he would have reacted before he encountered You, God who promised him a future? Perhaps he saw the bigger picture and perhaps You had worked on his heart so he could accepted their customs, the marriage to Leah and 7 more years labour.

One thing we learn early in life, is that we cannot always have our own way. And things can go wrong regardless. Knowing You, Lord, we learn that our thoughts are not always Your thoughts. Or rather as You say through Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” You know best. Jacob learned to be patient for 14 years while preparing for the next move. Father, praying for patience is a long hard lesson!

But we do pray, that like Jacob, when we are disappointed, misled or have the unexpected happen, that You will give us the peace of mind to seek You first. And be able to get on with whatever needs to be done in the best way possible. And trust You even if we have to be patient.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Monday 13th January 2025

Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

Chorus

For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight
When he comes at last

Lyrics: Matthew Sherman Merker
From the hymn by: Ada R Habershon

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