Why I Believe

There are times when I wish my faith in God was perfectly box-shaped, with the corners tucked in neatly, and the whole thing tied up with a big, red bow.

There are times I wish I had bite-sized answers for the hard questions.  Answers that make easy sense within the framework of my humanity.  Answers that don't stretch me too much. 

But it doesn't work that way.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  And that can get messy.  Young mothers get sick.  Husbands leave.  Terrorists fly planes into buildings.  I follow a God who has promised me peace and comfort and joy, but on His terms, not mine. 

And I know--I really do know--that this is a tough thing for some people to swallow.  From the outside looking in, it looks like a blind faith, or a crutch.  I've traveled that road of skepticism more times than I can count.  I wrestled until my soul was bruised.  There were times, when I was younger, that I didn't think I'd ever be able to believe again. 

But I do believe now.  I do, with all my heart.  Even when it's messy.  But how?  How can I follow a God who doesn't always stop suffering? 

I don't have a theologian's answer to that question, because I'm not a theologian.  There was I time when I needed that kind of answer--the facts, the explanations, the persuasion.  I've heard them all, and those answers are all an important part of my faith journey.

Now, all I really need to see is His track record in my life.  I believe because I've seen what He's done, in my own life--my peace in the storms, my journeys out of the wildnerness.  I don't doubt His goodness, simply because He's proven it to me so many times, through my own circumstances, through Scripture, and most of all, on the cross.

My daughter hates it when I make her hold my hand to cross a parking lot.  She hates it when I have to tug a little to get the tangles out of her hair.  She hates it when I say "no" to snacks right before dinner. 

I do all this because I see the big picture.  She doesn't.

Yet in all of this, she still loves me and prefers me.  Why?  Because she knows that the same momma who says "no" to snacks is the same momma who makes sure she's always well-fed.  The same momma who grabs her hand in the parking lot is the same momma who kisses her scraped-up knee.  I have a track record of proving my love for her.  When I do something that makes her angry, she ultimately accepts it as coming from the hand of a mother who always acts with her best interests at heart. 

Is that too simple an analogy?  Maybe.  But faith is simple.  It's taking a leap and suspending disbelief just long enough to see if God is who He says He is.  If He is, He can handle the tough questions.  If He is, He'll meet us on our journey, taking a thousand steps toward us when we take just one toward Him.

From the bottom of my heart, I'll tell you--He's worth the risk.

Comments

[Susie]

After talking with a fellow blogger today about a post I wrote 2 days ago, she sent me over here to read yours for inspiration. I'm so glad I did. Just a beautiful post!

[Cahleen]

Thank you for this post! I love this line:

"I follow a God who has promised me peace and comfort and joy, but on His terms, not mine."

How true, and how easy it is to become angry at God for this. As if my wisdom were equal to his, I often think that my terms are best. Let's pray that God gives us more faith to trust in His terms.

Cahleen

[Laurie in TN]

Beautiful and wonderfully said. Thank you!

[groovyoldlady]

God is good, ALL the time! How quickly we forget what He has already done for us. The times we start to panic or question are the times we need to start counting those blessings and fall on our knees in amazement.

Our God is AWESOME!

[Alexis]

As someone who struggles daily with the "Why" question, this post really hits be hard. Thank you.

[Ruth :)]

Amen and thank you - I needed to take a moment and read that. It hit the right spot in my life right now. :)

[GiBee]

Beautiful, Shannon... and yes... he IS worth the risk!

[Short Stop]

Great, great post!

[Sasha]

Beautiful post and not too simple an analogy at all. It is what it is.

Thanks!

[becky]

Shannon, I've really been struggling with pregnancy issues recently (gestational diabetes) and shaking my fist at everything and everyone. I know I wasn't promised a smooth ride, but it's just been so hard and seemingly so unfair. And then I read your post yesterday. I really, truly needed to hear this. It helped me put things back into perspective. Thank you so much for posting it.

[Rhen (yestheyareallmine)]

So well written and I have to say very glorifying to God and uplifting to me. Thank you my bloggy friend! May God bless you and your family.

[Sharon]

I know you've got a lot of comments already, but I wanted to tell you that I'm just another somebody that you touched with that post. Thanks so much!

[jenn]

i am not a believer but you have made me think

[Aj]

How beautifully your words are put, how simple and yet effective. Touching right into the heart of me. How difficuilt it sure is to explain God's love and care to those who do not believe. Even to those who do believe in God but do not have a personal relationship with Him. How sad it makes my heart to think of how much they are missing out on. Thank you for your wonderful words. It sure is a masterpeace from the heart worth sharing. God bless you in all you do.

[Sallie]

I think you just followed 1 Peter 3:15-16 perfectly.. I loved reading this post!

God bless,
Sallie

[Kendra]

Thank you for this beautiful post. My husband and I are going through a difficult time right now. For the first time I am truly relying on Him for strength, and He has been faithful. My husband on the other hand is feeling abandoned. I will print this for him to bolster his faith and remind him that we all waiver sometimes but all it takes is one step toward the Righteous One, and he will carry us for the rest of the journey.

[Andrea]

AMEN and thank you for the lovely reminder!!

[Trina]

Oh my, I am choking on a huge lump in my throat and trying not to cry at work. What a wonderful post.

[Trina]

Personally I could NOT survive otherwise.

A lesson I did from Lisas online I AM Bible Study probably says it best....

Quoting me:

"God promises us in Isaiah 43:2 that "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I WILL be with you."

"I have to stand on this promise and KNOW its true. I have to believe it will all my being. There is no room for doubt. I always picture Peter when he's walking on the water towards Jesus. As Peter looked down and saw the scary waves he began to doubt and what did he do? He started to sink.

I can NOT afford to look down at the waves lest I sink and surely drown. I MUST keep my eyes focused on Jesus. It's the only way I've been able to continue putting one foot in front of the other."

I often wonder how I've managed to continue on all these years. 14 years to be exact. It doesn't take long for me to realize that its not I but rather we.....

Jesus and I

He is my strength. His grace is sufficient and when I think my feet will not move one more step I just look upward. The SON shines brightly down on me.
Little Ole' me.......
The keeper of this gate.

YES...His grace is amazing.

Beautiful post Shannon :0)
Trina

[TaunaLen]

Shannon,

Thank you so very much. This beautiful post brought me to tears. It speaks exactly what is in my heart of hearts where my faith is concerned. I watch my twenty year old daughter struggling with her own faith. A faith she held onto for dear life only a couple of years ago, and my heart breaks. I fear for her, that she will be swayed. I know the promises about raising her in the Way, I pray for her, that she will know the truth for herself, and find what her heart longs for. But my mama-heart breaks as I watch her go through struggles so like the ones I went through at her age. The Gentle Great Shepherd drew me back to the fold. His faithfulness and love rescued me. I know He's chasing after her, wooing her. I just hope she responds to the truth and doesn't get distracted in this time of wavering. It's good to be reminded that I was once where she is. And in my heart, I believe. I just do. It is my response to His track record in my life. Being reminded of that today gives me peace, and I appreciate it more than I can tell you.

~TaunaLen

[GRACIELEW]

Beautifully said!!! Faith = Forsaking All! _ I Take Him.

[Brenda]

This post is so beautiful and well written -I have had the same thoughts, but could never write them so well! Bless you for writing it :)

[childlife]

Found you over at Blog In My Eye's "God Posts" post from October 7th...

Beautiful post... you are so right about faith being simple! My favorite definition of faith comes from Max Lucado: "Faith is simply believing God can do something and hoping that He will..." Doesn't get more simple than that. And yes, He is most definitely worth the risk!