How can having
doubts about your faith make it stronger? I think the answer is that doubts
throw you off-center; they trouble your mind and spin you away from the
beliefs that your faith is based upon. Doubts are distractions and sometimes
major events in one’s life can cause very big doubts and major distraction
from our beliefs. This is especially true when we lose a loved one or when a
major event causes seemingly catastrophic disruption to our lives. Think of
the doubts that people in Ukraine must be gong through right now. Many times
those doubts center around the thought “How could God let this happen to me?” So, there you are,
spinning further and further away from your faith. How do you reestablish
your faith, re-center yourself and regain control? How do you actually make
your faith stronger in the face of doubts? I think Jack answered that
question in an earlier post using a quote sent to him by one of his followers
- “Your
life becomes a masterpiece when you learn to master peace.” (Sent
by RVB) We say “peace be
with you” often in church or maybe “be at peace” during a conversation, but
how does one master peace? It all gets back to faith. The reason that one has
ants in their pants is their inability to control things, to solve the
unsolvable problem or face the reality of a temporary failure. We spend
sleepless nights agonizing over the “coulda, woulda, shouldas” of life
instead of accepting what has happened and moving on.===JACK: I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who has ants in his pants.
FROM JJ IN SJ: Good
morning Jack! I was encouraged by the Monday meeting of Cultural Bridges.
There was real enthusiasm for the idea of conversation meetings across
cultures. The talk was of coffee and tea in public spaces. Maybe
even in homes some day. And
then again, hell does seem to prevail every day, as does some measure of grace
and hope. Nice to see open arms to refugees. ===JACK: Hell is there when you look for it. So is heaven. I'm glad that you're looking on the bright side of life. Things go much better with that attitude.
FROM SR R IN SC: The Scriptures seems to
always present a remnant of folk who will stand for the truth that prevails
therein and prevails coming and going, recycling in and out throughout
history…I’m thankful for such and the Sovereignty of God’s control! ===JACK: I like the word, sovereignty better than I do, presidency. In reality, we "cast our vote" for God every time we confess the Apostles' Creed. No matter the vote count, God remains Sovereign. ===R: What gives me continual
hope is the way individuals and countries are reaching out to those who are
suffering in Ukraine. ===JACK: Faith in action. God is the ruller, yet...as goes the hymn.
FROM BB IN CHGO: I like your words, “not satisfied with political solutions
to social problems”. "A" recently gave me a great article,
something to the effect, “Other Countries Have Social Safety Nets: the U.S. Has
Women” which highlighted that Covid decimated women’s pay and careers as they
cared for children since our country has no childcare solution.
Very…interesting.===JACK: Isn't it interesting (and exciting) to see young people using their minds? It's discouraging when people turn social issues into political ones.
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