FEARLESS FAITH

Leviticus 20:22-22:16; Mark 9:1-29; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 10:18

“The evil spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’

“The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me not to doubt!’”

“Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.
 There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy.”

“Help me not to doubt!”  I understand that father’s lament.  It is the worry of every man and woman who is serious about learning to trust God.  Lord, help thou my unbelief; overcome that part of me which keeps wondering if you’re going to drop the ball after I give it to you.  Supernaturally cut off the lack of faith that keeps me from trusting You.  (Note: all the above could be read as, “Make it easy on me, will you, Lord?”)

God does not work that way.  The step of belief is the one step we must take toward Him on our own.  Just one small step, and His Spirit can and will do the rest.  Still, it is a step many are afraid to take.  Perversely, they would rather be stuck in their situations without God than to risk the change He promises.  Sometimes, more fundamentally, they actually choose to suffer “little defeats” rather than risk (they fear) the loss of their last great hope.  They may be willing to open their lives to Christ, but actually specifically relying on the Spirit for the fundamentals is another thing entirely.  It’s scary.  Perhaps that’s why one of the most quoted statements of God in the Bible is “Fear not!”  It is a command, something we have to will ourselves to do.  It is not optional.

So, how do we learn to fearlessly believe God?  Three words: practice, practice, practice.  Understand why Jesus never said another word to the father after challenging his lack of faith.  Even the Lord cannot – will not - talk us out of our unbelief.  Jesus instead simply did what He does best, and will do for us given the chance – ACT!  He leaves it up to us to decide what to think about the consistency of His actions (especially when they include a decision not to act). 

Words are cheap in any time of crisis (or blessing, for that matter).  Jesus knew this and let His actions speak for Him.  If we are to truly believe, to abide in Christ, and He in us, we have to get in the habit of giving Him unconditional permission to act (or not) as He sees fit.  When I doubt – a not infrequent occurrence – I have to remember that, in fifty some-odd years of life, I cannot think of a single time God has failed me.  Not once.  As in never.  To be sure, some “victories” are only realized in retrospect.  But if I am patient and fair, God has been absolutely consistent in showing me He is dead serious about making all things work to good.  In fact, some of my worst temporary defeats have turned into God’s greatest victories.  I just need to pay attention and let His Light and truth guide me.

We wrestle with belief because we don’t trust God absolutely.  We don’t trust because we are reluctant to give Him free reign to act in the way that His sovereign Spirit says is best.  Consequently, we don’t see the results of faith.  Let me be absolutely clear, and personal: when I interfere with God’s work in my life, trying to limit His sovereignty and His Lordship, it is me, not Him, who fails.  When I wrestle with doubt, inevitably, it is because I am not paying close enough attention to all the blessings in my life, and the Lord’s hand in every one!