Hope

Where Strength is Found

One of my favorite songs from Third Day’s live albums starts with the lead singer, Max Powell, stating, “I can’t go on. I can’t go on” and then turning to a bandmate he asks “Can you go on?” After receiving an answer in the affirmative, the show continues.

This probably well-rehearsed skit is amusing and relatable because we’ve also been in situations where we feel like we can’t go on. Whether we’re playing a live concert or we’re faced with seemingly insurmountable life challenges, every one knows what it feels like to be spent. Some seem to get more than their fair share than others, but everyone gets to that place sometime. It’s the moment of complete helplessness, and if we allow, the moment of complete surrender.

“There are no athiests in the foxhole” is an old saying that demonstrates are susceptibility to turning towards God when our needs are mostly strongly felt. Many times however in turning to God in our moments of desperation, we ask for rescue and not for Him. We seek escape not His presence. We ask for relief and miss the opportunity for growth.

Luis Palau said, “When you face the perils of weariness, carelessness, and
confusion, don’t pray for an easier life. Pray instead to be a stronger man or woman of God.” May this always be our prayer.

Continue Reading

Growth

Prove It

As Christians, we are often told of the importance of sharing our faith with others. Although this possibility conjures up all sorts of anxiety and trepidation, I don’t think that the most difficult audiences are those who are unfamiliar with faith. Generally speaking, they may be more willing to hear about the trust we have in God because human beings tend to be curious by nature. I think the more difficult audience are those who know Christ’s teachings but choose not to follow them. The disciples who abandoned Jesus after their disillusionment (John 6:66) were probably more reluctant to believe in a resurrected Savior than were the Gentiles whom Peter and Paul set out to teach. When we are familiar something we tend to disregard anything that conflicts with our already confirmed perceptions. We let our bias dictate our input and so willfully or not, we are reticent to change our point of view.

The reason that discussing Christianity with a former professing adherent is difficult is because their argument against faith often takes faith out of the equation. Knowing the Scriptural account, they know that many things can not be proved; believing their validity requires faith. Yet often times they use the inability to scientifically demonstrate certain tenets of the Christian faith as a reason to refuse to follow Christ and we often get caught in circular arguments where in order to win them to the kingdom we try to prove what can only be attested to by faith. Faith, after all, is the evidence of things hoped for. If they have shun all hope, then the evidence will remain hidden.

A.W. Tozer put it this way, “The unbelieving mind would not be convinced by any proof,
and the worshiping heart needs none.” May all our hearts be filled with worship.

Continue Reading