When we make a deliberate and conscious choice to maintain our faith in God and His promises to us, His strength sustains us in suffering and difficulty. It flows from Heaven when we believe, and it drains away when we doubt. If I don’t make that deliberate choice, nothing within me will change. In fact, we know from cognitive psychology that our mental suffering will only get worse! Don’t wait for faith to magically appear in your heart. Faith is something we need to take up. That’s why the apostle Paul compares it to a shield. He says, “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16). Take up your shield afresh each morning and position yourself safely on the immoveable rock of God’s promises.