A Faith Tested

   It’s almost easy to be filled with faith when things are going well.  In fact we can almost forget how much God does for us when we don’t seem to need His help in our lives.  We may even come to believe that we can take care of ourselves; we don’t really need God’s help unless things go wrong.

   But there is the rub; what happens when things go wrong?  Now we not only want to turn to God but also to blame Him for whatever tragedy has struck.  After all, if He were truly all loving and merciful why would He allow us to be subjected to disappointment or pain?  We tend to forget Him when things are good and blame Him when they aren’t.  What kind of faith is that?  Pretty weak in my opinion.

   In everything we do we have to overcome some difficulties if we are to be successful.  Our faith is no different.  No one ever promised a life of ease with no heart-ache, pain or suffering.  Even our Lord experienced these things.  In His life He taught us that belonging to God is not always easy, it takes perseverance and determination.  It requires accepted things that we would rather not accept and still believing God has our best interest at heart.

   “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).  Each day we are to expect some challenge, some difficulty.  It is how we respond that tests our faith.  If we accept our cross and pray for His help in carrying it there nothing that we cannot bear, and our faith strengthens.  If we try to lift and carry that cross on our own we are likely to fail, and our faith suffers.

   Sometimes our faith is tested to the limit.  A tragedy occurs that is so great that we are shaken, we can’t accept that God would allow such an injustice to occur.  It is then that the strength we have gained in bearing the daily crosses we face can be our saving grace.  Though we may not understand, we can accept.  Though we can’t seem to bear this cross, God waits for us to hold our hand and help us.  In our faith is our strength.

Father, you have given me a tremendous cross to bear.

Strengthen my faith, give me your comfort.

Talk my hand and lead me through this darkness.

Let me come back into the light of your love.

Amen