The Difference-Maker

Some Christian denominations, as well as some other religions, teach that suffering and sadness are measures of spirituality or religiosity, but it’s supposed to be just the opposite. God doesn’t intend for religion to be grievous, and Jesus certainly didn’t make it that way.

I don’t see how people can be truly happy until they have their deepest needs met. Even if they have everything they could wish for materially, they need something to satisfy their spiritual hunger. Thank God, Jesus does that!

My religion makes me happy, and even my work makes me happy because I know it does people some good. When I’m sick or suffer loss or face other serious problems, I may not feel very happy for a while, but even that doesn’t destroy my overall happiness. My physical condition or present circumstance may leave a little something to be desired, but I can still be happy in spirit.

I have very little to be unhappy about. The only thing I can think of that I want is for other people to be as happy as I am. That’s the only real longing or need that I have—the desire to help others understand how much Jesus has to offer, so they can be happy too. That’s why I take every opportunity to urge others to open their hearts and lives to Him, because I know they will discover the same happiness I have found. If people see that I’m happy and they’re not, they wonder what makes that difference, and they want it for themselves. The difference, of course, is Jesus.

Having the joy of the Lord is part of our example as Christians, but that’s not the only reason we should pursue it; we also need it ourselves. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” That joy is found in spending time with Jesus—“In Your presence is fullness of joy.” It’s found in taking in His Word—“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” And it’s found in putting the Word into practice—“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

True, lasting contentment isn’t found in our possessions or circumstances, but in staying close to God and following His plan for our lives.

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Philippians 4:4 ESV- Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Psalm 16:11 ESV- You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Romans 14:17 ESV- For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Be Happy!

There’s such a thing as being too sober and taking things too seriously, especially ourselves. The ability to laugh at ourselves is a great asset and helps keep us humble. People who can’t laugh at their own mistakes or take the mistakes of others with a sense of humor are either too proud or have too severe a sense of life.

God intended for us to enjoy living, and He has given us the ability, senses, and environment to do so. In fact, our main purpose in life is, as Martin Luther once said, “to love God and enjoy Him forever.”

If there’s anything we Christians are supposed to be, it’s happy people. We’ve got more to be happy about than anybody else in the world. We have the happy love of Jesus, who takes all of our burdens, carries all of our cares, and lightens all of our sorrows. Jesus says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light .

If you’re finding His yoke too heavy to bear, then maybe you’re not “casting all your care upon Him.” Maybe you’re trying to carry too much and pull too hard on your own, instead of letting God do it by His power, His love, His grace, and His strength. He says, “Without Me you can do nothing.” “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.”

When I was a young man, a missionary who had evangelized a country that was closed to the Gospel stayed with my family for a while. As he helped wash the dinner dishes one evening, I marveled at his humility, grace, and happy, cheerful spirit. Here was a man who had done great things for the Lord, humbly washing dishes with me.

Since I was planning to become a missionary myself, I asked a question that I expected he, of all people, would know the answer to: What quality do you think a missionary needs the most? I expected some solemn and profound answer from his vast wealth of wisdom and experience, so you can imagine my surprise when he paused, hands in sink, looked at me with a smile, and said, “A sense of humor—the ability to laugh when you feel like crying.”

So let’s always be able to smile through our tears. A ray of sunshine is even more beautiful in the midst of rain. Let’s have a little more sunshine and laughter, and not so much gloom and doom. The world knows enough hell; let’s show them a little more heaven. “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.” As the American poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone. For the sad old Earth must borrow its mirth, but has troubles enough of its own.”

Let’s be happy! Don’t be gloomy and sullen, lest you be like old Jenny the mule. After a Sunday of constantly hearing “no” and “don’t” at the farm of his religiously strict grandfather, poor little Johnny wandered wistfully out to the barnyard and stroked Jenny’s long nose. “Dear Jenny, you must be awfully religious,” he said, “because you have such a long face—just like Grandfather’s!” That’s some people’s idea of religion. Don’t let it be yours!

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Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV – I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

Psalm 1:1-6 ESV – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

John 14:1 ESV – Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Contentment

“Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” Those words went through my mind as I washed the breakfast dishes. Was that even possible? Could I actually be satisfied having nothing but food and clothes? The apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Not me. There have definitely been times when I wished I had some of the extras I saw others enjoying. I haven’t always been satisfied. How could I be satisfied with only food and clothes? I asked myself as I finished the dishes.

As if in answer to my question, my attention was drawn to my seven-month-old niece, Kylie, as she played quietly and happily gummed a slice of apple. Now she definitely looked content—the perfect picture of peace and tranquility. But what in the world did she have? A diaper and a slice of apple, yet she was perfectly happy.

I had my answer. Kylie wasn’t worried about whether or not she would have food tomorrow or if she would run out of diapers. She had her food, she had her clothes, and she was perfectly content, trusting her mother to take care of her and give her exactly what she needed, when she needed it.

I should be the same way, I realized—happy and satisfied with what God gives me, and trusting God that He will take care of me and give me the things that I truly need. And now I am. I have not only food and clothing and other material comforts, but I have things that many millions of people in the world don’t have. I have Jesus and His gift of salvation. I have my family, my health, friends. I have little Kylie who loves me no matter what. I really do have all that I need. I am truly content!

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Philippians 4:11-12 ESV – Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV – Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Luke 12:15 ESV – And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Stressed?

When it seems there is more to be done than there is time for, it’s easy to get under pressure. We think we’re not getting enough done or are not getting it done quickly enough, so we push ourselves harder. But the fact of the matter is that when we do that, we usually wind up being less effective and getting even less done. What began as positive, motivated action turns into stress.

Stress hinders us in a number of ways. It puts extra strain on our nervous system, which diminishes our mental sharpness. It causes us to try to go too fast, so we’re not as careful and prayerful as we should be and are therefore more likely to make mistakes. It squelches inspiration. It makes us irritable and harder for others to work with. It can really take the joy out of life! Allowing ourselves to become stressed is counterproductive in every way.

Stress?—Or peace?

Learning to recognize when the effects of stress begin to appear and then taking positive steps to counter them is probably one of the most important work habits we can build—and the very best way to do that is to ask God for help.

We need to ask Him to help us see the early warning signs, and then we need to learn to give our worries and cares to Him and trust Him to do the work through us, in His way and in His time. “Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”

First things first

Stress is the enemy! As Christians, when we feel under pressure, the first thing to get crowded out of our schedule is often the very thing we need most—our time with God.

When you keep your spirit strong and healthy by reading and meditating on God’s Word and by taking time to love and be loved by Him, you gain access to one of the greatest of all stress busters, faith. Faith brings you His supernatural insight into others and situations. It brings the peace of knowing that He is in control.

When you turn to God for help, it’s like opening up the pressure valve of your spirit. If you continue to try to do it all yourself, the pressure will continue to mount.

God is concerned about you and your happiness. He wants to be involved. He wants to help you with your workload, and He will help you as much as you let Him. He will lighten your load incredibly if you’ll just ask Him. He will soothe your ruffled nerves, calm your mind, and show you what to do.

God has all the answers

Of course, it’s even better to eliminate whatever is about to trigger stress before that happens. To do that, it’s important to pray for help in organizing your work. Pray before you begin your day and again each time new factors enter in, and He will inspire you with ideas that will make your way clear and simple so you don’t get under such pressure in the first place.

You’ll be amazed at how specific He can be in His instructions about your schedule and how to go about your work. He’ll show you your priorities. He’ll give you tips on how to get them done most effectively and efficiently. He’ll help you avert many of the time-wasting problems that put you under pressure by reminding you of things you have forgotten or overlooked, or by showing you things that you have no other way of knowing. He’ll walk with you through the good times and the tough ones. He’ll bring deeper contentment and joy in the good times and the guidance and strength to turn even the tough times into victorious ones.

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John 14:27 ESV – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Psalm 55:22 ESV – Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Romans 8:31 ESV – What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

This Little Light of Mine

The other evening my wife and I watched the sunset from our terrace, and we stayed until stars came out. As usual, the evening star was the first to appear. An hour or so later it was still the brightest light in the sky on this moonless night, its steady gleam easily outshining the twinkling competition.

The evening star had an unfair advantage, of course, since it is actually the planet Venus, masquerading as a star. Like the Moon, it emits no light but merely reflects light from the Sun.

It struck me that if the Moon and Venus can beam that brightly, as dull-surfaced and void of light as they are in themselves, I need not worry so much about my own spiritual reflective index—my degree of goodness or godliness, as perceived by myself or others. All I really have to do is be there to reflect God’s light when He shines on me. That realization doesn’t give me license to let myself go and become a spiritual slob, but it’s liberating to know I don’t have to try to appear to be something I’m not.

That experience put a new spin on a phrase from a familiar Bible verse—“Now we see through a glass darkly.” I had always applied that to my perception of God and spiritual realities, but now I see that it also applies to how others see God reflected in me. No matter how I may try, I can’t change my own nature any more than a planet or moon can transform itself into a star. That transformation is something that God does as He shines on me. I may not be the most brilliant, reflective surface, but His light is sufficiently bright to make me one of His stars.

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Psalm 28:7 ESV – The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

John 14:26 ESV – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Hebrews 10:35 ESV – Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

Someone Bigger Than Me

I can still remember the first time I discovered what a few minutes in God’s creation can do. I was in grade school and was frantically searching for a misplaced workbook that I needed for class the next day. The more I searched, the more confused and frustrated I became. I was exasperated and on the verge of tears when my mom came into the room. Seeing my dilemma, she suggested I go outside for some fresh air and sunshine. “Perhaps it will give you new energy and refresh your mind,” she said.

My nine-year-old mind couldn’t make sense of that, but I gave it a try anyway. Running down the path through our yard, I breathed in the fresh spring air and basked in the warm sunlight. I stopped to smell the fragrance of newly opened flowers and sat by the lily pond, watching the goldfish dart by as the water tickled my feet. Turning back to the house, I suddenly remembered that I’d left my workbook between the cushions on our living room sofa where I’d been sitting and watching TV the night before. I felt relieved and refreshed. Mom had been right.

I have often applied that childhood lesson to my adult life. When life’s challenges leave me feeling low, when my work feels too demanding and the pressure too crushing, I love to take a few minutes with nature. Whether it’s a few potted plants on a window sill or a breathtaking view from a mountaintop, there’s just something about God’s amazing handiwork in the diverse and colorful world around me that refreshes my mind and renews my spirit.

It’s wonderfully reassuring to remember that, like His wonderful creation, my life is in the hands of someone bigger than me.

“God is the supreme artist. God looked at His creation as it progressed and saw it was good; when He had completed it, He saw that it was ‘very good.’ The Great Artist was evidently much pleased with His world. It was a world filled with wonderful objects, shapes, and movements, a world abundant in rich colors like those of the rainbow and the rose, rich textures like those of beaver fur and magnolia leaves, rich odors like those of the quince and the honeysuckle, rich sounds like those of thunder and running streams, and rich tastes like those of watermelons and chocolate.”
—Clyde S. Kilby

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Colossians 1:16 ESV – For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

1 Chronicles 29:11 ESV- Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

Exodus 14:14 ESV – The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

Happiness Is What We Make It

Some say that happiness is what we make it. The more time I spend with a certain friend, the more I’m convinced that’s true.

Four years ago he was a successful businessman. Then one of his employees had a breakdown and showed up with a shotgun, intent on killing as many people as he could. In an attempt to disarm the man, my friend lost a hand and an eye. When he was released from the hospital weeks later, his savings were gone. My wife and I met him when we began volunteering at the homeless shelter where he was living. By then he also had Parkinson’s disease and a deadly form of skin cancer. He could barely walk or get out of a chair by himself, but he was one of the most cheerful, positive people I had ever met.

He has since moved from the shelter to an apartment, where he lives on a small pension. Two surgeries stopped the cancer before it could spread, and medication and therapy are helping him deal with Parkinson’s. Still, on a bad day there are very few things that he can do for himself. Taking him to doctor appointments and shopping has been a learning experience for me. Regardless of what we’re doing or how arduous it is for him, he has a secret agenda: never leave anyone without a smile. And he always succeeds. He learns everyone’s name, includes it in his cheery goodbye, and remembers it next time. He finds opportunities to build people up and is generous with compliments. He tells corny jokes. He pokes fun at himself. Whatever it takes.

A lot of people, if they were in his position, would blame God or become bitter, but not my friend. “That’s no way to live—and I’ve still got a lot of living to do,” he has told me.

Happiness is what we make it.

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Ecclesiastes 3:12 ESV – I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.

Isaiah 12:3 ESV – With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Philippians 4:4 ESV – Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

One Day at a Time

One of the greatest prayers ever taught goes back two thousand yearsand contains a simple point that helps me focus on living in the now: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

For 25 years, my dependence on alcohol and drugs took away my ability to enjoy life. I became so remorseful of the past and so fearful of the future that I was constantly terrorized by the thought of what another day might bring. Then, in that single sentence from the Bible, I found a whole new concept for living. When I live in the day, I’m freed from that life of fear and torment.

I can’t expect to have my needs guaranteed for the next week or month or year. All I really need is what I need for today. That is why I must strive to live my life that way—one day at a time.

I have come to understand that today is the only time I have. There is no guarantee of tomorrow; and yesterday, with all its mistakes and sorrows, is gone forever. Today, this present moment, is precious.

Even though I know this now, I can still waste my day by reliving the past or worrying about the future.

The effect addiction had on me was that I took myself and my sordid circumstances very seriously, often to the point that I lost contact with reality. There was no joy or humor or real satisfaction in what I did. Everything around me became grim and dark.

Today, positive signs of spiritual rebirth are showing in my life. Each day I gain more spiritual energy and zest for living. I find joy in others and myself. I have rediscovered the pleasure of laughter.

I know that not every day will be a bed of roses, and I will always have to face pain and disappointment. Freedom from the weight of past mistakes and fear of the future will not always shelter me from the pain of the present or the consequences of past actions. The best thing I can do is pause, look deeply within myself, face today’s problems with determination and honesty, and make the choices the day demands, knowing God is with me.

The burden of my yesterdays often becomes too great for me to bear alone. And if I think of my life in terms of all the things I must do tomorrow, next week, or next year, the sheer weight of the resulting worry overwhelms me. Whenever I find myself approaching either of those states of mind, I must ask God to bring me back to the now, where the burdens are more manageable and where I am able to either do something about them if I can with His help, or accept them if I can’t.

For most people, planning is a normal, healthy function; for me it is a two-edged sword. A good plan can keep my life manageable and help me get things done, but when planning leads me to hinge my happiness on the way I expect things to turn out, I am headed for trouble. That’s because, based on my past, I am more likely to expect problems than positive outcomes, tragedy rather than triumph.

The present can be large and interesting enough to occupy all my attention if I can stay focused on it. By concentrating on the here and now and opening myself up to others, God, and the good around me, I can live a happy life, one day at a time.

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Mark 9:23 ESV – And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

James 2:18 ESV – But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The Trinity Conundrum

In the middle of math class,one of my second graders made this startling declaration: “There is no God!”

Considering that this was a Christian school and Martin was the son of a pastor, I had to wonder how he had suddenly come to this conclusion in my classroom. When asked, he proclaimed, “My dad says that there’s God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but also that there’s only one God. It makes no sense.”

What to do? I was sure that greater minds than Martin’s had contemplated the Holy Trinity and run into the same problem, but at the moment I really preferred to stick to multiplication.

“Martin, we’re in math class. We can talk about that later.”

“It is a math problem,” Martin replied. “Three is not the same as one!”

What parent or teacher hasn’t been similarly ambushed? From the lips of children come a lot of tough questions. I’ve learned that the best thing I can do in such cases is ask God for wisdom, because what I may interpret as cockiness or contrariness on the part of the child may in fact be divinely instilled inquisitiveness and a great teaching opportunity. I didn’t feel sufficiently brushed up on my theology to explain the concept of the Trinity to Martin and his classmates. …

Recess. Saved by the bell!

For the next ten minutes, while the children played, I prayed. And an answer came to me. It was a bit simplistic and probably not how St. Augustine or other Christian thinkers would have explained it, but it worked for Martin and the others when math class resumed.

“The Bible calls Jesus the Rose of Sharon,”1 I told them. “God is like the root of the rose bush. He’s hidden, but that’s where the rose had its beginning and grew from. Jesus is like the rose blossom. He is the showy part of God’s love that we can ‘see’ and sense. The Holy Spirit is like the sap that flows through the bush, keeping it alive. Three aspects, but the same rose bush. See?”

I imagine Martin will have even tougher questions in the future, and of course I have plenty of questions myself. Thankfully, God always answers when we ask sincerely. He may give a simple, straightforward explanation like the one He gave for Martin, or one that’s more involved, or He may simply give us peace to accept what we cannot yet understand.

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Hebrews 11:7 ESV – By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV – For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Luke 17:5 ESV – The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

Walking On the Great Orme

The day dawned fine as I set out to walk up the Great Orme, a limestone headland on the north coast of Wales. I walked along cheerfully in glorious sunshine, map in hand. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

The road upon which I walked led me around the edge of the headland. The gentle sea breeze was invigorating at first, but soon a wind blew up over the sea and storm clouds gathered overhead. In minutes my coat was becoming heavy with rain. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

A little less cheerful now but hopeful that the weather would improve, I continued my walk. Optimism was rewarded; the sun came out, and soon I was carrying my coat over my arm, basking once more in warm sunshine. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

The map directed me off the road and onto a narrow track that wended through fields and bushes. I made my way up stony stretches, my legs beginning to ache as the climb grew steeper. Sheep grazed on stubbly grass. Seagulls gathered on the rocks below before soaring high on gentle updrafts. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

The time passed pleasantly until at last I reached the summit. The view was magnificent—the mountains of Wales to one side, the open sea to the other. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

My return route was by a different path. Despite studying the map, after some time I was dismayed to realize that I was going around in circles rather than descending. I was also getting weary and starting to worry whether I was going to make it back to my hotel before the sun set. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

I crossed paths with an experienced walker—a local man out with his dogs. He showed me a short, direct route. I was still tired, but invigorated by the expectation of arriving back before dark. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

The highs and lows of the walk of faith are much like my day on the Great Orme. Our faith may reach high ground or descend into valleys, and sometimes we are buffeted by the storms of life or wearied by the journey, but no matter how we feel, God’s Word, the foundation upon which our faith is built, stands firm, unchanged.

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Hebrews 11:6 ESV – And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Mark 11:22-24 ESV – And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

1 Corinthians 2:5 ESV – That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Where to Start?

A reflection on Bible reading

When I first found my faith as a young woman, I was told that I should read the Bible, but had no idea where to start. With other books, I was in the habit of glancing at the last few pages to find out how the story would end, but skimming the last pages of this book meant plunging into Revelation. That book made no sense to me whatsoever!

Fortunately, some more experienced Christians came to my aid and gave me some good advice on Bible reading. “The Gospels are written in straightforward language and will help you learn about the life and teachings of Jesus. To understand the heart of Jesus’ message,” they advised, “the best place to start is the Gospel of John.” It was also interesting to find out that the Gospel of John contains more of the words of Jesus than any other book. Each chapter reveals another aspect of His character, message, and life.

But soon I ran into a problem. When I read through the four Gospels, it appeared there were contradictions. If this was the inspired Word of God, why did the authors render certain stories or quotes differently? Someone helped me out. “When you describe a film to a friend, you don’t tell the whole story. You just tell the parts that stood out to you. Another person would probably describe different parts, what was most significant to him or her. That’s how it was with the Gospel writers. They each told certain aspects and left out others.” This made sense.

The books of Psalms and Proverbs were the next recommendations. Psalms is an inspired mix of prayers, pleadings, praises, promises, and prophecies. Proverbs contains a wealth of practical wisdom. Conveniently, there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, so it’s easy to read through in a month, one chapter a day.

But if you want a blueprint for action—if you want to not only grow in faith but to learn to share it with others—turn to the book of Acts. This book recounts the disciples’ activities during the first 30 or so years following Jesus’ resurrection as they worked together and spread the Good News.

Of course, there is a lot more in the Bible than the books I’ve mentioned here, but this was a good place to start in my journey of faith, and these books are still favorites to this day.

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Joshua 1:8 ESV- This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Romans 15:4 ESV – For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV – For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Crisis of Faith

Believing purely by faith, having no tangible evidence, is not a natural approach for everybody in all cases. Just as the Lord made people very different in their personalities and physical makeup, there are also different kinds of faith. Whether you need time and study to reach a place of belief, or whether you embrace concepts with little questioning, the goal is what counts—building a living faith.

It’s not unusual to go through crises of faith and to question points of doctrine or even foundational Christian principles. The Lord often works through such battles of the mind and spirit and uses them to strengthen us. He can use this process to help us to go back to the foundation of our faith, to reaffirm our belief system, and to gain greater clarity. It can help us reach a better understanding as to why we believe certain things to be true—the scriptural foundation for our faith.

Many Christians have experienced crises of faith or grappled with bouts of doubt. Some noteworthy examples come quickly to mind—Martin Luther, Mother Teresa, and the pioneer missionary Adoniram Judson. Their crises of faith and the battles they fought to reach a place of faith and understanding have been documented. The result of their experiences, however, was a stronger faith, a deeper understanding of God and the intimate relationship He seeks with each of us. Their battles and victories have inspired many. I would venture to say that their struggles also gave them a deeper understanding of the battles people face in affirming their faith and how these can be used to ultimately strengthen their faith. You may have had similar experiences.

Rather than looking at doubts and crises of faith as a potential threat to our faith, to be resisted and pushed out of mind and heart, we need to bear in mind that questioning, doubt, and skepticism can also be stepping stones to a strong and mature Christian faith. They can help us to reason and understand our faith, to research and to determine “whether these things [are] so,” and to reach a place of personal and reasoned faith. A faith built on these premises will not be easily swayed when challenged by contrary arguments or beliefs, or by the intellectual reasoning of unbelievers. Ultimately, the result can be a stronger and more seasoned faith.

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Mark 11:22-24 KJV – Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Hebrews 11:1 KJV – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; cit is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

How Much Does God Care?

Within the span of a week, I heard three people say three different things that got me thinking about God’s involvement in my life.

Person one said that he didn’t know if God actually cares about what we do, and that He may not be particularly interested in the choices we make beyond accepting salvation, especially the less important ones.

Person two said that he believed that God only intervenes in our lives after we have done all we can to find His will—that He expects us to exhaust all available means before He will intervene.

Person three expressed the point of view that when God made the world, He was like a clockmaker who assembled and wound up the clock and then left it to run on its own. God designed the laws of nature that would govern and perpetuate His creation, but from that point on, He has let things run themselves without His intervention.

Each of these outlooks disturbed me, and in the days that followed, I reflected on them. Something inside me rebelled against the thought that either God didn’t care enough to be involved in my life, or I had to work as hard as I possibly could before He would give me His attention.

If any of those three concepts were true, what could I count on God for, besides forgiveness for my mistakes and sins? What good was He? In times of tumult, I need help and direction, not to be worried about whether He cares enough to help or whether things have gotten bad enough for Him to get involved.

When I mulled over those three points of view, I was reminded of three proofs that stood in direct contradiction to them.

1. Personal experience

God has intervened in my life on several occasions in ways that made it clear He was interested in the decisions I made.

Once, years ago, I had a dream that gave me an answer before I even knew the question. A few days after the dream, I was offered two jobs. The dream had made it very clear which offer to take, and doing so put me on the path that led me to the work I have been doing for the past 15 years. I hadn’t done anything to find that answer, let alone exhausted all the means at my disposal.

On numerous occasions when I have sought the Lord’s guidance in prayer and have received direction from Him. I’ve asked Him to give me answers and He has—in meditation, by speaking to my heart, through my reading His Word, by relaying His wisdom through others, and through circumstances. He’s given me clear counsel and direction that, when followed, has worked. I know from personal experience that God cares, is interested in me, and will participate in my life when I am open to Him.

2. God’s Word

In both the Old Testament and the New, there are many examples of God’s interaction with man—His intervention in events, and His giving guidance or warning.

There are also plenty of examples of God’s involvement in the decision-making process of His followers, but there is an especially good one in the book of Acts:

“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

God clearly had preferences as to where they should and shouldn’t go, and He made those known to them.

The Bible explicitly states that we should look to God for guidance as part of our decision-making process, and that if we do, He will give us direction: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”

In the book of Psalms, David clearly showed that he believed in God’s guidance when he prayed, “Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.”

Jesus said that when we have needs, we should look to God and expect Him to meet those needs. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Jesus believed His Father would guide Him in making decisions, as evidenced when He selected the apostles from among His disciples: “He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.”

It’s evident from Scripture that God wants to and will interact with us if we want Him to.

3. The Holy Spirit

Along with personal experience and examples found within the Word, I thought about how Jesus promised that once He physically left our world, the Father would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in believers. He said that the Holy Spirit would live in us.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.”

If God was going to send His Spirit to dwell within me forever, then it stands to reason that He is interested not only in me as an individual, but also in what I do and the decisions I make. I would even make the case that He’s not merely interested, but involved.

In various English translations the Greek word parakletos, which is used to describe the Holy Spirit, is rendered “Counselor,” “Helper,” “Intercessor,” “Comforter” or “Advocate.” I like those images—God’s Spirit being all those things to me. I love it that God is active in my life, that He is interested in me, in who I am and what I do.

I see plenty of evidence that God wants to be part of my life, to play an interactive role. He and I are working together. His Spirit—dwelling within me, guiding my decision making—helps me in my journey through life. I’m so grateful that He didn’t just wind me up and walk away, but instead gave me the means to interact with Him through His Word and His Spirit.

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Psalms 121:3 NASV – He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.

Psalms 23:1 NASV – The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Matthew 10:30-31 NASV – But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.