Comfort the Fainthearted

Faintheartedness and despondency come from doubt and unbelief. Such a person has not placed everything on the altar of the Lord. Those who are fainthearted are well on their way to becoming the tail, despite the fact that God’s intention is to make them the head.

However, the Lord will show you the way out of this wretched condition if you are willing to obey His voice. He requires that you cleanse out the old leaven—that is, old doctrines that are contrary to the teaching of the Holy Spirit—and that your heart be liberated from earthly idols.

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.” Deut. 28:1.

The nation that is set high above all the peoples of the earth will not be destroyed by faintheartedness. On the contrary, they are a nation whose hearts are full of joy, even though this joy is not put on as an outward display.

“Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.” Verse 10.

No one is afraid of a fainthearted man or woman, but a victorious person is respected. This is a law in the spiritual realm.

Some might say that this applied to Israel in the old covenant and has nothing to do with us. But if the law is a shadow of reality, and if this rule applied in the shadow (that when you hear the Lord’s voice and heed it, you will be exceedingly blessed), how much more will this rule apply to that which is perfect—to that which casts the shadow. Even in the new covenant it says, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Heb. 4:7.

The Lord’s voice is always working to liberate people’s hearts from idols, which is not always pleasant. That is why the Lord found it necessary to give the exhortation to not harden our hearts.

When people draw back from the Lord’s voice and cling to the earth and the things of the earth, faintheartedness creeps in like a plague and takes over their minds, just as surely as rust consumes iron and moths destroy old clothing.

It is not God’s will for anyone to be fainthearted, but if someone on the “inside” has become fainthearted, do not be downcast. Get up again, and your last works will be more perfect than the first.

“And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.” Deut. 28:13.