I default to doubt very easily. There are entire seasons I’m not sure He’s real and I’m ready to throw the Bible in the trash. Maybe that’s too candid, but I look at our “Bible heroes,” and they often skated the edge, too. Their victories were interspersed with so many valleys.
But you know, I keep serving anyway. I keep acting like God exists. I keep loving people. I keep obeying His commands, as far-away as they feel. I force myself into the church community. I put my tiny little shred of faith into His Son. I pray, even if it’s a few words at night. I read Scripture, my heavy head on a pillow as the app shines its tiny little screen into the darkness. And most days, that meager little mustard-seed-faith is just enough.
It sounds like legalism, but effort is not legalism. It’s only legalistic to presume that God’s law can save, which leads to self-righteousness. I don’t believe merely following God’s law will save me. I believe following His law will lead me back to the heart who made me. As C.S. Lewis said, I’m trying to trace the sunbeam back to the sun. The days I succeed, I praise God. The days I fail, which are many, I continue on by the bare skin of my teeth.
I’m learning this is okay. I’m learning we are works in progress looking towards the work finished, Jesus.
— J.S. from What The Church Won’t Talk About
J.S. Park: Hospital Chaplain, Skeptical Christian 
Reblogged this on rennydiokno.com.
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Happens to the best of us
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Reblogged this on Concierge Librarian.
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This is such an important mindset to adopt. We can easily fall away from God if we allow our lack of faith to condemn us and pull/push us away from Him. By pressing in during our periods of faithlessness, we are in fact exercising pure faith. Thanks for this reminder.
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Yes! I’m reminded of Relevation 3:8 —
“I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
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Well said my friend. Often we hear pastors preach about faith like it should automatically be easy. It leaves the rest of us feeling as if we are failing the test. Thank you for an honest view of which many of us can relate.
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Thank you, dear friend. I do believe God wants a robust faith for us, but I think He knows our frailty and humanity. He was even one of us; He knows.
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Reblogged this on hard pressed but not crushed.
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Reblogged this on Things Will Fall Back Into Place.
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….not even our faithlessession at times can separate us from his love. He understands our little efforts towards him more than we can imagine.
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We could all learn a lot to not live by feelings alone. Feelings aren’t bad, but they aren’t always truthful. To many base their relationships, life decisions, and religion off feelings. All those have feelings in them, but feelings should direct our life.
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Reblogged this on Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
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