Despite Doubt: Following God in Trust

Despite Doubt: Following God in Trust

           

           

Corrie Ten Boom wrote: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Trusting in God is the key to being Christ’s followers for we only give ourselves to people we think we can trust. But we might ask, should I trust God’s promise to protect me even when asked to jump off a cliff? Satan tempted Jesus to do this but Jesus knew that God would help and rejected Satan’s request. Jesus refused to jump. He remembered Israel’s failure in the desert, the very sin He had come to replace. He told Satan not test God, and He already knew He could trust His Father. Jesus showed this faith when he obeyed God’s command and died on the cross clinging to the promise that He would rise again.

Faith starts from assurance and proceeds to risk. We enthusiastically take the chance of commitment when we are certain we have a word from the Lord. Counterfeit faith starts from uncertainty and leaps for assurance. 

A faithful life-is both less and more remarkable than many Christians know. It is less because the Christian life has never been about jumping off temples but about the daily response to obey. To love your neighbour day after day requires an act of God. Colossians 3:17, 23-24 states rules of Christian households. We have doubts about God and our relationship with Him but knowing God in faith helps us in our everyday world

Paul wrote “I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (2 Tim.1:12) Paul’s faith motivated him to visit Spain. It was his confidence in God which he believed inspired him to try. Paul followed Christ as a believer, His life forever changed and he walked in faithfulness knowing that God was with him. What about you?

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REFLECT for a moment and respond:

Do you trust Jesus to show you the way? How can you tell if you are relying on Jesus?  Which requires faith: to sell your possessions and become a missionary in a foreign country or to support your family by dependably showing up for your regular job?

            Edward Teller writes “When you… step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.”

Are you willing to step into the darkness of everyday unknowing? Are you willing to experience Christ’s light?

 “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus—than to trust and obey”—Do these words of an old hymn reflect your faith?

PRAYER

Wonderful God you call us to follow you in faith, but sometimes we wonder what this means. We are reminded that we must trust you and obey you in faith like Jesus did. Call us to follow you and speak to us as we strive to follow in faith. Hear us O God as we discern your will for our lives. Amen.

Michael E Wittmer, Despite Doubt: Embracing a Confident Faith ch.13-16

PLEASE NOTE: Apparently these reflections were not sent out via email throughout the months of July and August however, they were posted to our website on a regular basis. If you would like to read the preceding reflections focusing on Wittmer’s book please go to www.glenwoodunited.com and click on for Social Media—Rev Dr Catherine’s blog and these are listed there.