I attended a small, country church this morning in a nearby town in order to gain the last few details I needed to finish up my latest magazine article. As I sat in on a Sunday School discussion, I tried to both observe (as a writer) and attend (as a fellow church-goer). I sat jotting down a few notes when a statement one of the members made grabbed my attention.
He said, “Growing in faith requires us to walk through things we don’t understand.”
As he proceeded to expound on his statement, my mind chewed on what he had said. I often think of “growing in my faith” as doing Bible study, attending church, serving, fellowshipping with other believers – all that Christian-y stuff. While those are good things and do help me grow, alone they are not sufficient. I must walk through things I don’t understand. That’s why we have to experience difficult situations and people. If we understood everything – if life were all positive, rosey experiences – then we’d have no need for faith. We’d delude ourselves into believing that we were smart enough and in control enough. When we walk through the junk of life, we’re required to have faith (or else wallow in despair because life would feel totally meaningless and pointless). Faith that God really does love us, that He sees, that He’s in control, that He is sovereign, and that He is good.
That simple statement seems so obvious, but I’m not sure I’ve ever really thought through faith in this way. With receiving the difficult news of an untimely and tragic death in our family tonight, the statement resonates even deeper within me.
Lord, I don’t understand why life plays out the way it does sometimes. It hurts. Sometimes it just sucks. I know in my heart that you have a plan, an ultimate goal, a reason. I may never actually understand how that all works, but I have faith that it will. The tougher life gets, the deeper that faith will have to go, so I praise you tonight for the difficulties of life. I don’t like this part of growing in my faith, but I realize now that I’d become complacent – or even prideful – without it. Thank you that you can redeem even tragedies to glorify yourself and draw us closer to you.
11 responses so far ↓
Alyssa // January 7, 2008 at 9:47 am
I’m praying for you and your family as you face this tragedy.
Jeanne Damoff // January 7, 2008 at 10:06 am
Amen to your prayer, Tina. Peace of Christ in your sorrow.
spaghettipie // January 7, 2008 at 3:18 pm
A – Thanks so much.
JD – Thanks to you, too. FYI – it’s on my husband’s side of the family.
Llama Momma // January 7, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I’m sorry for your loss, Tina.
meh // January 7, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Sorry about the hard stuff going on with your extended family.
D'Ann // January 7, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Thanks for sharing this thought about faith. I needed it.
Madison Richards // January 8, 2008 at 2:08 am
T –
Unexpected loss will make you re-evaluate a lot of things. I think the operative word in that statement was “walk” (through things you don’t understand). The key is to somehow keep walking, even when you can’t feel your legs anymore.
I hope you’ll see the other side of this tragedy soon. You will undoubtedly have a new set of eyes by then.
Blessings and prayers, Madison
spaghettipie // January 8, 2008 at 2:24 am
Thanks to all. Your kind words and encouragement are cherished.
D – I’m glad it was helpful.
MR – I really appreciate your insight.
Jennifer L. Griffith // January 8, 2008 at 1:39 pm
He said, “Growing in faith requires us to walk through things we don’t understand.”
Boy, am I walking through this statement…in more ways than one. Thanks for the reminder.
L.L. Barkat // January 8, 2008 at 4:00 pm
So, so sorry for your loss. Life is hard sometimes, very hard.
real live preacher // January 15, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Yeah, and when I am going through those things I don’t understand, I have a hard time not getting irritated, even if often, later, I come to understand. I don’t remember that the next time.