Saturday, March 17, 2012

Cry Out With Your Heart

For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. -- Romans 10:10

Are you just going through the motions? Are you a believer in your mind and, sometimes, in your heart? At least when things are going well and you’ve got time to think about it.

But what about those other days? What happens when life seemingly turns against us? Where is your faith when your health fails, your job ends, your child dies? That’s the true test of faith -- is your faith only in your mind or do you carry it in your heart?

Yesterday a dear friend got a devastating diagnosis. She faces surgery and then a wait to see how far the cancer has spread. That will determine her treatment and her chances for seeing her grandchildren grow up. Her family and friends are devastated. She is at peace, as strong and sure as her faith.

I want to have faith like that. Some days I think I do. Then I grow tired and worn and I wonder how I’ll have the strength to carry on. I don’t have to. Because when I’m too weak to do anything but collapse, that’s when God carries me.

My friend knows that. She’s faced down death before. She surprised her doctors and survived when they thought she would die. She’s buried her husband and one child. She’s known deep grief and great joy. She lives her faith every day. She’ll be okay no matter what happens.

An elderly man recently received a horrible diagnosis as well. He was faithful to attend church and Sunday school. He socialized with his church friends. He struggles now. He’s upset with God. He goes back and forth between pretending he’s fine and pushing God away with all the energy he can muster.

Two people. Two different reactions. Both Christians. The difference may be in the heart. It’s the difference between living your faith and holding it close in your heart and living your faith with your mind. Because faith isn’t about logic or fairness. It’s about God and trust and belief.

It’s easy to tell others how we would react under similar circumstances. We don’t really know. We pray we never know. But life is uncertain and we can only ever be certain about God.

So cry out to God when life starts shifting in scary ways. Hold on to the Rock when everything around you is uncertain. Draw closer to Him. Cling to Him. Hold on to the only One who can carry you through whatever it is you’re facing.