An Answer for a Friend
A new friend from the Internet asked me this:
What happens when you re-evaluate your faith because you can't remember why you wanted it in the first place?
Now I could give all the "pat" answers that most Christians give to those who question their faith and perhaps that might give some light to my friend. However, I want to answer by posing a few questions for my friend to ask himself and then make a comment or two. But mostly, I am going to pray they find the answers they seek.
Here are the questions:
1. What circumstances have changed in your life since you came to faith?
2. Are you involved with other believers or would you describe yourself as a "Lone Ranger" Christian?
3. Are you disappointed with God over a specific event or circumstance.
Here are a few comments:
Many people question their faith when facing difficult times or changing circumstances. The guys who wrote the Psalms were always asking, "God, where are You?" Elijah got depressed after a great spiritual victory and wanted to die. John the Baptist was isolated in a prison cell and wondered if Jesus was even really the Messiah? I get down in the dumps and a bit confused sometimes, too.
But when the dust settles and I rethink my experience with God, I remember that it was not I who reached out to Him, but He who reached out to me. I was bopping through life happy as a lark and doing quite well, but He began to put people in my path who pointed me towards Him. I ignored them for a while and then ultimately I was exposed to His Word. The truth of Scripture captured my heart and it still captures my heart.
I said, "Yes" to God over 35 years ago. It seems impossible that it has been that long, but it has. I have failed Him plenty, but He still hasn't failed me. There have been many times that I have not understood what He was up to, but I have learned to trust Him through those times.
This quote from Charles Spurgeon sums it up for me: "God is too good to be unkind. He is too wise to be confused. If I cannot trace His hand, I can always trust His heart."
Over a hundred years later, Babbie Mason and Eddie Carswell took Spurgeon's words and turned them into a great song. I have included the lyrics below in the hope they may bless you.
All things work for our good
though sometimes we can’t see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what’s best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So, when your pathway grows dim,
and you just can’t see Him,
Remember He’s still on the throne.
God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.
He sees the Master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don’t live as those who have no hope.
All our hope is found in Him.
We walk in present knowledge,
but He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry, He’s weaving you and me
to someday be just like Him.
God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.
What happens when you re-evaluate your faith because you can't remember why you wanted it in the first place?
Now I could give all the "pat" answers that most Christians give to those who question their faith and perhaps that might give some light to my friend. However, I want to answer by posing a few questions for my friend to ask himself and then make a comment or two. But mostly, I am going to pray they find the answers they seek.
Here are the questions:
1. What circumstances have changed in your life since you came to faith?
2. Are you involved with other believers or would you describe yourself as a "Lone Ranger" Christian?
3. Are you disappointed with God over a specific event or circumstance.
Here are a few comments:
Many people question their faith when facing difficult times or changing circumstances. The guys who wrote the Psalms were always asking, "God, where are You?" Elijah got depressed after a great spiritual victory and wanted to die. John the Baptist was isolated in a prison cell and wondered if Jesus was even really the Messiah? I get down in the dumps and a bit confused sometimes, too.
But when the dust settles and I rethink my experience with God, I remember that it was not I who reached out to Him, but He who reached out to me. I was bopping through life happy as a lark and doing quite well, but He began to put people in my path who pointed me towards Him. I ignored them for a while and then ultimately I was exposed to His Word. The truth of Scripture captured my heart and it still captures my heart.
I said, "Yes" to God over 35 years ago. It seems impossible that it has been that long, but it has. I have failed Him plenty, but He still hasn't failed me. There have been many times that I have not understood what He was up to, but I have learned to trust Him through those times.
This quote from Charles Spurgeon sums it up for me: "God is too good to be unkind. He is too wise to be confused. If I cannot trace His hand, I can always trust His heart."
Over a hundred years later, Babbie Mason and Eddie Carswell took Spurgeon's words and turned them into a great song. I have included the lyrics below in the hope they may bless you.
All things work for our good
though sometimes we can’t see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what’s best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So, when your pathway grows dim,
and you just can’t see Him,
Remember He’s still on the throne.
God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.
He sees the Master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don’t live as those who have no hope.
All our hope is found in Him.
We walk in present knowledge,
but He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry, He’s weaving you and me
to someday be just like Him.
God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.
