Mercy Me’s Guide to a Stronger Faith Journey
Tips for Christ Followers
Life is a rollercoaster of emotions, experiences and expectations. For Christ followers, the journey is no less complex, but we have a compass—our faith in Jesus Christ. Recently, the members of the contemporary Christian music band Mercy Me sat down with Family Life Radio to share. Their words offer practical solutions to some of the most common struggles we face in our faith journey.
Mike Scheuchzer, the band’s guitarist, opened up about the challenges he faced in 2020. “I can see that I just put my hope in my circumstances,” he said. When the world turned upside down, and the band’s tour was canceled, Mike felt lost. But he found his way back by anchoring his hope in God. “When our hope is in an unchanging God who loves us no matter what, then our circumstances don’t weigh as heavy as I think.”
Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (NIV). When we place our hope in the unchanging nature of God, we find a stability that the world can’t offer. It’s a solution for those moments when life feels like shifting sand beneath our feet.
Cultivate a “God-Listening Heart”
Mike also introduced the concept of a “God-listening heart,” inspired by Solomon’s request for wisdom in the Bible. “If we’re just listening for God, those things are going to just start to make sense naturally,” he said. “The more time we spend with God, the more we already know the answer.”
Cultivating a “God-listening heart” is like tuning an instrument; the more you practice, the better you get at recognizing the right notes.
The more time in God’s presence—through prayer, worship, or reading the Bible—the more attuned we become to His voice. This is invaluable when you’re at a crossroads, seeking direction from God.
Don’t Take Your Relationship with Jesus for Granted
Lead vocalist Bart Millard shared that seeing life through the lens of Jesus has become second nature to him. “I’ve been a Christian most of my life, and the fact that Christ is in us, should come naturally, so that we start looking through the lens of Jesus through the crazy stuff. I’ve taken it for granted that it’s just the way that I see things because it’s been that way for a long time. And I don’t realize until I get around people that don’t see through the same lens,” he said.
Could this be a wake-up call for those of us who’ve walked with Jesus for a long time? It’s easy to become complacent and take our relationship with Him for granted. The Bible encourages us to seek God continually. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” ( NIV).
Bart’s words remind us that a vibrant relationship with Jesus requires ongoing effort, just like any meaningful relationship in our lives.
Trust in the Holy Spirit During Waiting Periods
Bassist Nathan Cochran touched on the difficulty of waiting for God’s guidance. “There’s there’s a a point in your life where you [ask], What am I putting my hope in? Am I viewing life through this lens of the relationship I know have with Christ? I don’t always do that. Last couple years where evidence of that,” he said.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Guide (see John 14:26). Trusting in Him during these waiting periods can bring peace and assurance that God is working things out, even when we can’t see it. It’s a comforting thought for those times when you’re praying for an answer and all you hear is silence.
Nathan continued, “You need that constant reminder to trust the Holy Spirit is alive in you and know that His promises are real.”
Remember God’s Goodness
Barry Graul, another guitarist in the band, talked about remembering what Jesus has done in your life. “It can be a discipline … to make myself look back on what Jesus did in my life,” he said. It’s part of why we take communion, and serves as a reminder constantly of what He’s done and why we need to be still and know (see Psalm 46:10).
When you’re going through a tough time, recalling God’s goodness in the past can be a source of strength for the present.
May you be encouraged today to place your hope in God, wait on His guidance and keep your relationship with Jesus vibrant.
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