So, the glass on the table in front of my husband is half-empty but he doesn’t see it that way. He never has. It’s filled half way due to becoming a new dialysis patient who must limit fluids and life. I guess we’re limited only by the way we view every situation – even when our body betrays us.
And he still sees the glass half full.
A few weeks turned a no-hope diagnosis into one of hope. We pray and believe for a miracle and then we see one and we’re almost tempted to doubt that it really happened. Ever done this? Some are still surprised that he remains in the land of the living.
Tripping over ways to explain it away we walk with one foot in faith and the other in doubt. I ask, was he really that desperate and sick? And I answer, when organs fail you’re that sick. When doctors stand at the foot of your bed decorated with oxygen, monitors, life sustaining equipment and declare “there is no more to be done” you know that it is simply a powerful God who brings you through.
Sometimes reality smacks between the eyes of faith if we fail to believe to see what reality turns out to be.
Faith is not believing something in spite of the evidence if we look past what we see.
I believe the best of us struggle in the sacred margin of faith and doubt when we face critical times. Abraham is a good example of a man of faith who had to at least wonder as he made the trek up the twisted path to Mt Moriah to sacrifice his only son. The one reckoned righteous had the faith to obey and the faith to let go. And the chosen one, father Abraham said “we” will return . . .
Faith can drive us straight into the deep of God’s promises. We can rest in the thicket waiting for the ram.
And then, the misunderstood disciple whose name comes with a prefix . . . doubting Thomas. Jesus didn’t shame him for wanting to touch His wounded side. Instead He encouraged him to a higher faith level because it revealed where Thomas’ heart had been all along. I love Thomas.
The Lord comes near for us to lay our doubts within His holy wounds and experience the healing He offers . . . no matter how impossible it seems for you or for me.
For those with faith no explanation is necessary.
For those without no explanation is possible.
Thomas Aquinas
Verna
Sue says
January 29, 2015 at 5:45 pmThere are no words…only awe and humility seeing His unspeakable grace and mercy!
Verna Bowman says
January 29, 2015 at 6:16 pm. . . yes, Sue we’ve been made speechless a few times, haven’t we? His unspeakable grace and mercy can certainly silence us . . .
Liana says
January 30, 2015 at 1:24 amSo encouraging Verna. You and your husband are truly inspiring. May the Lord strengthen you both more and more every day and may many see and be blessed because of this miracle which is blossoming before your eyes.
Verna Bowman says
January 31, 2015 at 7:55 amThank you for your faithful visits and encouragement, Liana . . . and may this be the prayer of my heart, to be blessed with strength and to bless others with the same.
Lynda Stear says
January 30, 2015 at 8:17 amAll I can say is Praise the Lord! Here is another song: (My Fith Looks Up to Thee)
1. My faith looks up to thee,
thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day
be wholly thine!
2. May thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire!
As thou hast died for me,
O may my love to thee
pure, warm, and changeless be,
a living fire!
Verna Bowman says
January 31, 2015 at 7:56 am. . . and this would be my song and prayer, Lynda . . . that my love to Him would be pure, warm and changeless . . . and truly a living fire . . . thank you.
Glenda Mills says
January 30, 2015 at 1:33 pmVerna and Jeff,
So grateful for you two and the things you teach those who know and love you. Why is it we sometimes have faith for the big things for others, but lose hope quickly for ourselves over a sinus infection that hangs around way too long!!
I helped nurse Dave back to health and then got it myself. I could use prayers from you and Jeff about now (: even though my issue is not life-threatening. Hugs!
Verna Bowman says
January 31, 2015 at 7:58 am. . . and isn’t this the question we all need to answer, why is it we have the mountain-moving faith and trip in puddles 🙂 Me, too. Hope you and Dave are doing better – I need to call!