Believing' Ain't Easy

                               

Reverend Chauncey recently gave a sermon about the importance of belief (Jesus, Believe Him or Not). We can call ourselves Christians, but if we don’t actually believe what the Bible says, it’s just a meaningless title. We also can’t just pay lip service to our belief. We have to live lives that demonstrate that belief. Seeing a person that’s strong in his or her faith can make others feel like believing in God is easy, but most of us understand that it’s not. It’s possible for us to come to a point where believing is second nature for us, but it takes time and effort.

It’s crucial that we don’t let our battles with doubt discourage us. It may help knowing that we are not alone when it comes to crises of faith. For proof of that, we need look no further than the Bible. One might expect that the people in the Bible were the paragons of belief, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the Bible probably has more examples of people who struggled to maintain their faith than it does of people who were solid in it.

Consider the Israelites following their departure from Egypt. God saved them from Pharaoh and his army, used a column of fire to guide them, and gave them a steady supply of manna when they were hungry. He took good care of them, yet they still doubted him to the point that they created an idol to replace him.

Think about the people closest to Jesus while he was on this Earth. His disciples saw him heal the sick, turn a few scraps of food into enough to feed thousands of people, and walk on water. They knew he was the Messiah. They came to understand that Jesus had to suffer and die but would come back. Despite knowing all that, they still struggled to believe when he returned.

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. - Luke 24:37-43

The disciples more than anyone should have had unshakeable faith in Jesus, but even they had trouble believing at times. God does not like our lapses in faith, but he understands them and is willing to do what is necessary to help us overcome them. Just look at Jesus’ interaction with Thomas.

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” - John 20:24-29

Of course, Jesus wanted Thomas to believe without needing to be convinced, but Jesus still gave Thomas what he needed. In the end, Thomas’ faith was strengthened, and that’s what matters.

Thomas is not the only one that Jesus had to help in that way. Think about the encounter between Jesus and the demon possessed boy.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” - Mark 9:21-25

The boy’s father had the sense to ask Jesus for help with his belief, and Jesus granted his request by helping the son.

No one begins their walk with the Lord with unflappable belief. It is normal for people to have ups and downs in their faith, but we have to work on ourselves so that we get to a point where believing becomes as easy as breathing. The only way we can get there is by first acknowledging the weaknesses in our faith and then asking for God’s help in overcoming them. God knows us and he knows how to reach us. Just like with Thomas, he can give us exactly what we need to help us believe. We just need to ask.

Chris Lawyer