Pastor Deb Washer

As a Christian, I read the Bible and learn as much as I can about God and how God works. In my tradition when I refer to the Bible, I mean the protestant version which contains the “Old Testament” and “New Testament.” The authority that I give the Bible that is so familiar to me shaped my faith, guides my life, and teaches me that God is the only certain, unchanging constant, and everything else is uncertain.

The Bible has stories that are a mixture of life-giving, surprising, tender, unfair, hope-filled, unjust, and confusing history, poetry, prophecy, and instruction that leaves me contemplating. If I read my Bible looking to affirm all that I believe at this moment, God leads me to places which help me strengthen my faith by asking my beliefs to be challenged and affirmed by the situations of faithful people, and of unfaithful people. Every story has the potential to shift my perspective closer to God’s perspective about me, about us, and about “them” (those who are not like “me” or like “us”.)

Uncertainty is nothing new in the Bible. If anything, the Bible is a tool that God uses to show us that when uncertainty is present, faith will help us win. Winning has nothing to do with our efforts, but with our faith. Life is terrible? – That’s nothing new. Faith that God is there with you can bring you through the uncertainty. Life is awesome? – that’s nothing new. Faith that God is celebrating with you is the way that your faith is being strengthened by the real and present hope in this moment. This faith stays with you so that you can remember hope when terrible comes back to your life. Chances are that most of the time, our lives are both terrible and awesome all at once. Our response to life will depend on which of these you focus on.

Don’t get me wrong – sometimes life is completely terrible – like when an enemy is destroying your home, your city, your life in war – or when a tornado rips apart your home and kills your family. It is next to impossible to see the awesome in times like that. And yet. in the midst of terrible is hope. that spark, or promise that after we live through the pain, loss, despair and terrible reality, we can head toward awesome even if it is a slow journey.

Some people are stuck in terrible. And that is why we have faith. People who are stuck in terrible need to see our faith. Not as a passing lecture, a temporary handout, or a greeting card wishing them well. People living in terrible need us to put ourselves where they are, and help them move with faith toward hope so that they can even imagine awesome again. Sometimes there is too much terrible uncertainty in the world and we turn our backs because we cannot help them all. But with faith, with guidance from God through prayer and the Holy Spirit’s direction, we will find a way to help one or many with what we have.

There is much more to be said of faith and how it helps us through uncertainty. But as I ponder, I know that I need to balance the spiritual exercises of faith (prayer, study, and contemplation) with physical exercises of faith in action. Thank you Lord for reminding me again, that we are not alone.