“Stop doubting and believe” ...

John 20:27

These words were spoken by Jesus to Thomas, as he was refusing to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he could touch his wounds personally.  Most of us will never get such a physical, tangible opportunity here on earth to refute our unbelief.  And yet we are called to believe nonetheless. In fact, if we could really see or touch Jesus, no faith would actually be required.

On the good days, when things are comfortable, going according to our plan, it is easy to believe in a loving God whose sovereignty reigns over the earth.  But when things fall apart – a loved one (or ourself) becomes sick, a tragic accident or illness takes someone we love, we lose our job, violence and corruption abounds, life seems bleak – what then? 

The world is built on self-sufficiency, making a plan and working that plan, to attain what we think is right and best.  And indeed, God gives us many skills and abilities and calls us to do that to bring about his kingdom.  But not alone.  Often with others, and most definitely with God, always discerning God’s desire for us and following God’s leading to bring it to fruition. 

But what do we make of those times when we don’t succeed, or even fail miserably, when we lose the love of our life way too early, see others struggling with illness, addiction, or injustice that never seems to end, while others with seemingly bad motivations triumph easily?  Where is God in all this?  Does he care?  Can God not do something about it?  Why doesn’t he?  Every day life questions that can rock our belief in God if we let them. 

That is where faith – believing in God, despite the lack of evidence at the moment – comes in.  Faith is both a grace (gift from God) and a choice.  A gift, because first and foremost, all things come from God, and God uses that gift (and all gifts) to share his love with us.  A choice, because we must choose to accept this gift and live in it.  There are many unbelievers in our world, all of whom God desires to have believe in him, and most likely has given them the invitation to do so.  Yet they, and we ourselves at some times, choose to live instead in unbelief – anxiety, fear, self-centeredness, and anger, seeking to independently control our lives and our surroundings, doubting God will help us or if he even cares.  It is in fact, the daily struggle we all must face on earth – keeping the faith when life is difficult or even awful.

In challenging times like these, it is often helpful to look back on our lives, remembering all the times that things just worked out, we felt carried through a difficulty, unexpected help came, or we were able to do the impossible.  Times when we felt truly loved for who we are, had a sense of hope when the circumstances didn’t really warrant it, or had a sense of something greater than ourselves.  Those, and many others, are experiences of God that can strengthen our faith when we feel weak, reminding us that God is good, sovereign, and very much with us, caring about every minute detail of our lives. 

When we can live in these positive beliefs, it is easier to not fall prey to all the negative ones that seek to separate us from God.  But the battle is real!  To be able to live into the gift of our faith, we must spend dedicated time with God to learn more about him, hear from him, and deepen our relationship with him.  If you don’t already have a practice of this, seek to make one.  If you already do spend time with God, seek to strengthen that time by listening more deeply or increasing the duration a bit. Perhaps you might also start noticing those little daily circumstances that cause you to wonder, "Is that you, God?"