It has been said that faith is like a muscle. The positive and negative sides of the similarity are both true: it’s possible for faith to become stronger when regularly used and weaker over time if it’s neglected.
So, how do you hold onto your faith in lockdown?
We all have days where our faith is weak, it doesn’t mean we don’t believe, we are just finding the way a little hard, as with exercise we don’t give up just because things get tough. It is in those moments that we persevere in order to improve.
In Luke 22 when Simon Peter one of Jesus’ disciples was approaching his weakest moment (although Peter didn’t know it) Christ had already prayed for him.
Jesus foretold in verse 34 that Peter would deny him. Although before that Jesus had said to Simon Peter in verse 32 “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
That is the wonderful thing about being a follower of Christ, before we even realise we need help, Jesus has already helped us.
Furthermore, once Simon Peter had come through his own trial of faith (and emerged stronger for it) he was able to strengthen his fellow believers as Jesus had instructed him to do. He used his own experience to build up their faith.
That is not to say that because we are believers of Christ that the things which lie ahead will be easy, but if we flex our muscles of faith in prayer, exercise our minds and take comfort from the reading of our Bibles, also turning to those around us for support and encouragement, things will get easier.
“For I the LORD your God, will hold your right hand and saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’.” Isaiah 41:13