Unwavering Faith Amidst Unimaginable Adversity?

by Pastor Mike Fabarez

 

In our broken world, suffering is not a matter of if, but when. As you read this letter, you or someone you love may be grappling with pain, uncertainty, or loss. Perhaps you’re feeling the weight of life’s burdens, longing for a hiding place — some glimmer of comfort and relief. If so, you’re not alone.

 

The $80 billion pain management industry testifies to our desperate attempts to escape suffering. But what if I told you that our natural aversion to pain might be hindering our spiritual growth and healing?

 

As believers, we’re not immune to life’s trials. Yet, we’re called to something extraordinary — to “rejoice” when we suffer for Christ and his gospel. Does this sound paradoxical? It should, because this spiritual reality often defies our earthly logic.

 

The truth is genuine peace and healing aren’t found in “safe spaces” or comfort zones. They’re discovered when we confront life’s challenges head-on, armed with an unshakeable gospel foundation.

 

This month on Focal Point, we’re embarking on a transformative journey that promises to revolutionize your faith and reshape your entire perspective on life. We’re calling this study Gospel Impact.

 

This isn’t just another teaching series. It’s an exploration of how the living, breathing power of the gospel continually impacts every facet of our lives. You see, your encounter with Christ wasn’t meant to be a one-time experience, or a fading memory of a time when you first accepted Christ. It’s a living, breathing force that should continually define who we are.

 

In our study, we’ll discover, the Gospel Impact …

• Disrupts our comfortable routines and challenges our assumptions,
• Draws us into a deeper relationship with Christ,
• Intrigues our mind with its timeless wisdom,
• … And puts everything — including our daily struggles — into perspective.

 

As we navigate these tumultuous times — fraught with political divisions, economic uncertainties, and personal trials — it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. But I’m convinced that the individual transformation of hearts and minds — through Gospel Impact — is the only meaningful change that can heal our families, communities, and our nation.

 

To complement this powerful series, I’ve selected a book that embodies the very essence of unwavering faith in the face of unimaginable adversity, Corrie Ten Boom’s The Hiding Place. The 35th Anniversary Edition features a poignant foreword by Joni Eareckson Tada and serves as a testament to how the gospel can sustain believers, even in history’s darkest hours.

 

The Hiding Place​
by Corrie Ten Boom

 

When you support Focal Point with your generous gift this month, I’ll send you The Hiding Place: 35th Anniversary Edition to inspire you, or to share with someone who needs to hear its powerful message.

 

Corrie’s harrowing journey through one of history’s bleakest chapters will leave you in awe of God’s faithfulness and the power of the gospel to transform lives.

 

Champions of faith, like Corrie, offer remarkable testimonies, but their suffering isn’t the exception — it’s a “normal” part of our Christian journey, especially in times of cultural upheaval. Her story reminds us that “there’s no pit so deep that God’s love isn’t deeper still.”

 

Friends, every letter we receive, every life changed, every heart renewed — it’s all a testament to the impact of your generosity and the gospel. As we launch the Gospel Impact series, I invite you to join me in prayer for open hearts, renewed minds, and lives forever changed by the transformative power of the gospel.

 

I assure you; your support doesn’t just keep our broadcast on the air; it reaches countless individuals seeking hope and truth in a world of confusion. Thank you for standing with us in this crucial mission. May the gospel continue to impact your life in ways both profound and unexpected, reminding you that in Christ, you are a new creation, and more than conquerors.

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;” — 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 —

 

In Christ,

 

 

 

Mike Fabarez
Pastor and Bible Teacher