God's Unshakeable Faithfulness: Yoli Hernandez

Do you ever feel as if all your trust in the Lord is suddenly misplaced when hardships enter your life? 

The never-ending struggles of a pandemic are still evident in our lives. Almost two years ago, a disease entered our world, and I am not talking about COVID-19. I am talking about our misplaced trust in God’s promises. We started doubting God’s Word when we experienced a loss of friendships, a sense of emptiness, and close family deaths. This led to a disease in our hearts called misplaced trust. 

I spent most of my childhood between two countries, Mexico, and the Middle East. I had the opportunity to meet unique people with specific callings. As I heard these astounding stories of God calling His people to the mission field, I heard two words that were evident in each story: doubt and fear. These two words were recurring themes in my personal life. I doubted God’s love for calling my parents away from home and in turn, I feared God’s sovereign plan for my life. On the other hand, I heard these stories from people with beautiful smiles and palpable joy. Have you ever felt as if joy and doubt, peace, and fear, can’t go together?

The words of James resound in my heart as I think of these contrasting words. James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete.”

I moved to Wake Forest two years ago with this assurance in mind, that I could persevere in trials. I had a firm belief in my personal strength to overcome my feelings of loneliness and pride. I also believed my faith would withstand any trials and difficulties. I believed I was prepared for anything, but I was not prepared for the Lord to test my faith. I was not prepared for the Lord to ask me to move away from my family whom I deeply love. I was not prepared for the Lord to ask me to trust Him and serve Him in my singleness. This is what I call misplaced trust. I had placed my trust in the temporary things I could not control instead of looking to the “Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross.” (Hebrews 12:2)

For many of us here at Southeastern, the theme misplaced trust has been evident in our life these past two years. The uncertainty of life has drawn us to secluded places of hopelessness. We no longer consider it pure joy to walk through trials. Our trust in a sovereign God has been misplaced. Our families and our relationships have been affected by our lack of trust in God’s power. The lasting effects of COVID-19 has left us with brittle hearts. However, God’s sovereignty is still present in these situations. Now is the time to take the blind of faithlessness off our eyes so we may behold God’s miraculous works. Let’s swim against the current by being persistent in the calling of our faith so we may be mature and complete. He has come so we may have life and have it more abundantly!

Yoli Hernandez is an undergraduate student at the College at Southeastern. She is beginning her junior year as a philosophy major. She currently serves as the Auxiliary Ministry Coordinator for the Women Around Southeastern office. She has a passion to empower women as they fulfill God’s calling in their lives.