Why does Les say it is hard to keep faith in a fast-paced culture?
A fast-paced culture makes faith hard because overwhelming circumstances quickly provoke doubt, making people ask where God is and why He seems absent, so faith can be crushed under pressure. Abraham's example shows God's promises can take decades to fulfill, teaching that His wheels grind slowly but surely.
Les explains that in a fast-paced culture, it is awful easy to lose faith. When things begin to overwhelm us, we suddenly think, 'Where is God?' and 'I just can't sense His presence.' Calamity or accidents strike, and the first thing the human mind says is, 'Where is God?' Then faith can literally get crushed under the circumstances. He points to Abraham, whose promises from God began back in Ur when he was probably about 50, but he didn't leave Haran until 75, didn't receive Ishmael until near 80, and didn't see the promised child until he was 100 and Sarah 90. Les notes Abraham had almost 50 years to 'sweat the promises' while nothing happened, and he says God's wheels grind slowly but surely.