Faith and Doubt

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”

Hebrews 10:23

          There are very few who are never troubled by spiritual doubts.  Even the staunchest believers will have moments when they ask themselves, “Is this really true?  Is God really there?  Does God really care?” Sometimes a challenge or obstacle prompts uncertainty.  We wonder why God does not always intervene to make things better. Sometimes the various philosophies and religious beliefs that surround us raise questions. Our confidence wavers.

          For these reasons and others, the writer to the Hebrews encourages the disciples of Jesus Christ to “gather together for worship and study and prayer.” The corporate nature of these activities is necessary so that we may “encourage one another to love and good works.”  This support requires that we be present to each another.  You won’t find this hope so easily if you sit by yourself and alone in your room.

          What others do for us, that we can’t often do ourselves, is to see with objectivity. We always look at thing through our own eyes.  How can we not? Our perspective is the only one we have.  We only see through different eyes when we open ourselves up to the views of others.

They can help us to doubt our own doubts and open the door for a new way of looking at our faith and our relationship with God.  They may see something in a familiar scripture we never before saw.  Their experience may speak to our own.  With that we can gain a renewed confidence in Jesus Christ that will not waver.

The church really is like the children’s pantomime, “Here is the church and here is the steeple.  Open the door and here are the people.”  We are the body of Christ.  Together with him we can grow.

Holy Trinity, through your Word we learn that you exist in communion, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so we know that community matters.  Help us to forge a caring community of faith so that we may always encourage one another to love and good works and so express you love and faithfulness to a world in such need.  Amen.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

 the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

The Bible speaks of faith often, but this is the only place where any kind of definition is offered.  The two operative words are assurance and conviction.  In today’s world where questions far outnumber answers, assurance and conviction seem in short supply.  They are often replaced by whim and feeling.

The problem with life directed by whim and feeling is that everything is in a constant state of flux.  There is no base on which to stand.  In fact the Greek word behind the word assurance is stasis, which was a construction term meaning foundation.  Faith gives you a place to stand as Jesus said in his parable about the wise and foolish man, and will allow you to face the inevitable storms of life.

This is important because it helps you to understand some of the more important questions in life – questions that cannot be answered by formula or computer or balance sheet.  These are questions like:  “Does my life have meaning?” and “What does it really mean to be loved or to love?” and “Where is my place?”

 The answers to these questions will only be found in the heart, and can only be seen as the Spirit gives us insight into God's Word.  The convictions created by such reflection form the faith foundation that strengthens us to resist the blowing of every changing wind of public opinion.  It allows us to become a more faithful people.


Grant us faith we pray, so that we may stand upon you who are our rock and redeemer.Help us to share that faith through out attitudes and actions.  Amen.