When Doubt Knocks on Faith’s Door
There's a man in the Bible whose story has always comforted me, especially on days when my faith feels shaky and my doubts feel louder than my convictions. He is never named but is identified as the father of the demon-possessed boy, and his story is found in Mark 9.
This man brings his son to Jesus' disciples, desperate for help. The boy is suffering terribly, seized by a spirit that throws him to the ground, makes him foam at the mouth, and grinds his teeth. The disciples try to cast out the demon, but they can't. Finally, Jesus arrives, and the father falls at His feet with one of the most honest prayers in all of Scripture: "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
Let that sink in for a moment. This man is saying, "Jesus, I do believe in You. I have faith in Your power. And I have doubts. I'm not entirely sure. Help me with the parts where I'm struggling."
Even If He Doesn’t
Once upon a fiery furnace, there were three men with unpronounceable names, and their story is a blazing example of faith even when it appears perplexing. The heat was on, and I don't mean a scorching summer day. King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to bow down and worship an image of gold. The price for non-compliance? A one-way ticket to the fiery furnace. Yikes!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. - Daniel 3:16-17 (emphasis mine)
Harmony in Unresolved Melodies
Ah, the sweet sound of a resolved chord, a musical sigh of contentment that brings a smile to our faces. I'm with you on that one! There's something deeply satisfying about a piece of music that ends on the perfect note, giving us a sense of completion. However, it’s becoming quite the trend to end a musical piece on an unresolved note. It drives me crazy! I feel like we’re in the middle of the song, and then suddenly, we’re on to the next song. Huh? What just happened?