We're tempted to react along the same lines when the stock market spirals downward. When our investments lose money, fear rises, and we're not sure what to do. Sometimes we just bury our head in the sand, hoping things will get better and we won't be judged by more savvy investors who seem to be okay. At other times, we respond by selling our stocks and putting the cash in a metal box for safekeeping. Many people in the financial world would say that neither response is the appropriate one. They may advise buying more when the market is down.
Religious faith is a bit like that. Or, should I say, religious doubt? Rather than hiding or scurrying away when doubt creeps across our soul, we might see doubt as the very means for growing our faith. Doubt helps us to ask deeper questions, notice things that were invisible to us before, seek for what has been hidden, test what we have heard to see if there is any 'sticking power' in it.
We are often afraid to confront our doubt because we're aware that we may find that we've made a bad religious investment. On the other hand, if we are willing to take the risk and stay for awhile in the land of doubt, we may find it's the door into the vast expanse of faith. If we deny or run from doubt, we will always wonder what is or is not true. But, if we face our doubt, we may be surprised to find that faith is real. That God exists. That there is more to the formulas than we thought. That we are held in the palm of heaven's hand. That our certainty and trust have grown. Yes, we may just find that faith is the best investment we could have made. We just couldn't see it until we passed through the rocky, inhospitable land of doubt.
I recently found myself in position to doubt God because of a serious situation that my husband was experiencing at work. I am a strong believer in God and fate, which is the Universe in action in powerful ways. My husband and I dont have parents, specifically fathers to turn to and have often prayed within the vein that God is our Father. This crisis was so severe that I pleaded my case boldly several hours a day in meditation. I was angry that after such a hard life that I would again feel so threatened after having survived so much. I really took God to the task mentally listing all the ways that I had been loyal and that I was going to require some feedback as to just how important my life was to him. In a spiritual sense I need to see this problem resolved in way that it would be apparent that a miracle was taking place. THE MIRACLE HAPPENED: within days of the horror of the crisis, the answer that came and it was better than anything that I had asked for. As all crises can be, it was a time spiritual growth for me and my husband. My relationship with God grew stronger and my husband who was often hesitant to think that God thought personally of him told me that he had never had a prayer answered in such a personal way. We should be both in love for Christ and bold in request! I am grateful and encouraged to know that God answered so quickly, we found out that he loves us in very personal way.
Posted by: Annie 4/9/2009 10:30:10 AM
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