By Danielle Metz

Have you ever felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit yet ignored him? Maybe the urging was to extend a helping hand or to respond to a rude comment with silence. Maybe it was to forgive someone or not only to forgive but to reconcile the relationship. Did you do it? Or did you ignore the feeling, justifying your actions saying, “I trust you, God, and I believe in you, but that is just too hard.” How often do we avoid the call to action because we doubt God’s ability to work through us or because we are too scared of being hurt? 

Faith Without Deeds

James, addressing a church body of believers who were struggling to live out their faith, said, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them?” (James 2:14) 

Can we still claim our faith if we don’t act on it? James goes on to give them an example of an active faith. Rahab was given a situation to prove her faith when Joshua sent spies to scout out her city of Jericho (Joshua 2). God had promised the city to the freed slaves Joshua was leading out of Egypt. The king of Jericho found out and sent some men after Joshua’s spies. Rahab could either reveal where the spies were or hide the Hebrews. She hid them.

God’s Promise of Rescue

Rahab believed the spies were sent by God and took a huge risk in order to show her faith. She could have been severely punished, but she feared God more. As a result of her risk of faith, she was given safety when Joshua sent for her and her family before God destroyed the city. 

When we step out in faith, acting on the truths we claim, God doesn’t promise us comfort, but he does promise us eternity. He promises to come back and rescue us. When we find ourselves in a situation that is testing our faith, we should ask ourselves whom we fear most—God or man?

Danielle Metz lives in Harrison, Ohio, with her husband, Mike, and son, Gabriel. She is a stay-at-home mother who blogs and cartoons about the humorous and not-so-humorous parts of being a parent.