The Quandary of Faith!

1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. 2 God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. 3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.  ( Hebrews 11:1-3 New Living Translation)

The writer of Hebrews goes on to list several examples of what he is trying to convey about this unknown quality called faith.  (You can read for yourself such references in verses 4-40 of Chapter 11.) What I would like to talk about is the quandary faith creates in the human mind. This stepping out with nothing to hold on to.  With no map to instruct our direction, into an unknown place of promise.

How is it that we have “confidence assurance that what we hope for is going to happen?"  That is what the writer is saying about faith  “It is the confidence assurance”.  Where does this confidence come from?  How do we get it?  And, if we have it, how do we know that it is enough, or correct, or based on truth?  And, if faith is assurance that what we hope for is going to happen, what happens when what we hope for doesn’t pan-out? Which is so often the case!  Are we hoping for the wrong things?

Throughout my ministry people have said to me:  “I prayer to God over and over about this and nothing seems to happen. Things are still the same as they were.”  There are big questions out there in this world of provable reality. Questions that make God’s promises seem almost fairytale like, and completely unbelievable.  So with all of the proof — seeming evidence — that God does not exist.   Or at least doesn’t really do what he is suppose to do.  How are we to have this things called faith/trust -- confidence assurance — in God?  Indeed, how are we even to begin to believe the stories in the Bible?

Because, the Bible is the nature and substance of faith.  The Bible is called the true story about God. However, very little that is written in the Bible can be proven.  Faith by definition is the point of reference.  “A belief in something for which there is no proof” (Webster’s Dictionary) -- creates  this unprovable discussion.  And yet, we are asked to have faith, trust, confidence etc.. in this God who creates; and breathes life into every living creature!  This God who is the sustainer and provider of all that exists.  We are asked to walk through this life by faith in this God who supposedly created all that exists.

For those of us who have been blessed with a life long relationship with our Creator, these questions seem a bit trite, simplistic or maybe even offensive.  However, to those who are new to faith, or who have been turned off by religion, the questions  are very real.  Questions that put up very real walls of doubt. In their struggle, to find meaning in their life, by coming to this unknown God for answers.  It is our job -- indeed our privilege -- to be their source of information. Their map, so to speak, to God through Jesus and his promised Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.  

The trick is doing it with grace and patience!