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Faith Is the Victory
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
Being laid off is a reality for many faces. The fear of losing a job is a common threat, especially for older workers. Older employees are often among the first to be downsized and tend to remain unemployed longer. After receiving my layoff notice, I prayed and felt assured that God would help me. However, God’s promise did not exempt me from putting in the effort to acquire the skills required for the job market.
Sometimes, we may think that hoping in God or waiting on Him means being passive or doing nothing. But is this always true? What can we proactively do while holding onto the steady hope and comfort that God provides? Despite my fear of not finding a new job and recognizing my own lack of knowledge and skills, I worked diligently to improve myself. Fear may have been a motivating factor, but faith gave me hope and kept me moving forward.
Jesus lifted His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear me.” (Jn 11:41-42) This prayer, spoken by Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb, demonstrates simple faith—a faith that lifts its eyes to God and recalls His grace rather than focusing on difficulties. In the seeming hopelessness of my job search, I reminded myself to look up. I shut out the negative voices within and around me—the voices that said, “It’s too difficult to find a job after 50”—and instead put my hope and trust in God.
Jesus’ prayer also reveals complete confidence that God hears and answers. Giving thanks to God is key to receiving His blessings. Through intercessory thanksgiving prayers in the Holy Spirit, I felt assured that God had already heard me and prepared a new job for me. The Holy Spirit, like the pillar of cloud and fire in the wilderness, guides our steps along our journey of faith. Trusting and following the Holy Spirit’s guidance is crucial.
When we have full confidence and assurance in God, we can overcome our fears and worries. In the Scriptures, this complete confidence is often closely tied to devotion to God. When I prayed for a job that would still allow me time to serve Him, I sensed that this prayer pleased Him—and it became the turning point in my job search. Fixing our eyes on Jesus and glorifying God are the keys to building confidence and assurance in Him.
Our life is like a ship sailing on the sea. We may encounter turbulence and hidden rocks, but faith anchors us securely. Our anchor is not in the deepest sea but in the highest heaven—it is our source of security and stability. Why should we fear the wind and waves in life’s turbulent seas? Even during fear and struggles, we can be confident that God is with us.
Let us look up, give thanks, and place our hope and trust in the Lord. He will wipe away our tears and lead us to victory. Truly, faith is the victory!
Join Us and Make Faith Our Victory
We warmly invite you to our upcoming Spring 2025 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation (ESSC)—a time of worship, fellowship, and deepening our trust and faith in God. Bring your family and friends as we learn how to create a Christ-centered life at home, work and beyond. Save the date—we look forward to seeing you!
Thursday, April 17, 2025 6:50PM to 8:10PM
Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, 2025 9:00AM to 8:10PM
Sunday, April 20, 2025 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Please find our church location below:
4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
Google Maps
In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.
Friday Evening Service: 7:50PM – 9:00PM
Saturday Morning Service: 10:50AM – 12:00Noon
Saturday Afternoon Service: 1:30PM – 2:40PM
Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org