Second Guessing God ~ Chap 3

As I looked down my mind and body became increasingly aware of the movement.

I wasn't aware of this fear before that experience, but it was making its way quickly into my consciousness.

But, after all, how could a nine-year-old have a rich history of experiences.

But, to this day there is one thing I remember from that day... I was afraid... And I quickly realized the building was moving.

It was not an earthquake, high winds, or a collapse of the building... It was simply... The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

I was traveling with my best friend's family. They were taking me to Disney World with their son since he was an only child (almost, the rest of the story on another day).

What I felt that day, I've felt in my faith journey. Maybe you have as well.

Just about the time you think you're solid in your faith, it starts to move and you get a little sick to your stomach.

That's what happened that day. 630 feet above the landscape below.

I can't tell you what I saw that day, I'm sure I saw things and experienced wide-eyed wonder. But I can still tell you how I felt. AFRAID.

I don't know that I expressed that verbally, but I must have had that "yikes" look on my face as I leaned back away from the window.

Amazingly, the ride to the top was fun. I liked roller coasters, even at 9. Each bumpy progression up the interior was kinda cool.

But at the top, I was petrified.

I was still shaky on the ride back down. My legs felt a little wobbly when we got out on the bottom.

Let me ask you...

Have you ever had that type of experience in your faith?

A moment where you didn't realize the trip was a little bumpy, but when you got to the top, all bets are off and the white knuckles are evident.

Brian's assertion that there are two types of miracles helped me process my "fear of heights" in my faith journey.

I've never seen a physical miracle. That may change your opinion of me and make you want to stop reading and move on. That's ok... I understand...

I have seen God do some miraculous things in the health of a person with little to no chance of survival. Their life was better because of the trek through the pain. But the body was never "totally healed."

I certainly won't be a stupid voice in their life to "steal" that miracle from them. It's their right to praise God for the reversal of the impact of their sickness.

I've seen immediate relief of pain and anxiety because of God's grace and the plea of faith from a believer.

But...

More often I have seen God's miracle as he's changed those lives and given hope in the midst of the most horrific circumstance.

Hope that is HUGE compared to the pain.

Hope that overshadows their health challenge so much that the darkness of that shadow makes it seem as if it never even existed.

Ann Tisdale's testimony still rings in my ears... "Cancer didn't kill me, it saved my life."

I've seen God restore families... marriages... churches... attitudes... hate... prejudice... misunderstandings... nations...

These are the most needed miracle of our age. A reborn heart that is able to let go of the cares around and hang on to God.

Not the many substitutes that scream for our attention.

Including the following...

~Bad Theology that gives you your "best day."

~Political blindness that allows followers of Jesus to ignore the one command, "love like I loved you," and call it the "salvation" of a nation.

~The false security of our current wealth instead of looking to the savior who has provided for everything. He has given us life. LIFE.

So when Brain asserts that miracles "were extremely rare in biblical times and are just as rare today," I find myself taking a deep breath and sighing in relief.

Please take a deep breath as well...

Again, you may feel like you just need to stop reading... I am ok with that... I am thankful you got this far.

When I make someone uncomfortable with some of my thougts, I hope to have an opportunity to have a conversation with that person. I hope we can do that, it's the best "iron sharpens iron" I've ever experienced. I've grown so much from those conversations.

As I wind down this post, here are some thoughts from Chapter 3 for you to ponder, and comment on...

1. "Unsure of what to do, after a few awkward moments I did what any normal 18 year-old would have done. I leaned over to the preacher and said, "You're freaking me out" and walked off the stage. (pg 49)

2. "...God does his best work over long periods of time. That is important to remember." (pg 51)

3. "The Bible seems to show us that there are two different kinds of miracles, not just one." (pg 52)

4. "Bill sensed I was struggling; he graciously put his hand on my arm and said, "It's okay. You don't say anything. Jesus will get us through this." I couldn't have been more awestruck..." (pg 58)

5. "When we realize that God wants us to experience a perseverance miracle rather than an instantaneous miracle, it is easy to become bitter, withdrawn, and negative." (pg 61)

6. "I always think of the last Christmas letter I received from Ray... he wrote something that made me catch my breath: "Even thought Mary Helen can't speak anymore, we still pray together every day." That's perseverance. It's miraculous." (pg 63)

Thanks for taking time to take this journey with me...

Till next week...

Keep watching for miracles...