SUBSTANCE AND EVIDENCE
You know the feeling—when life careens off the predicable rails or the bottom drops out leaving you grasping at air. Those moments you never imagined—startling like the sinister jack-in-the-box jester. All is well, turning the crank while sprightly music tinkles from within the metal box. Then in an instant—unexpected mayhem erupts.
Perhaps that is a bit dramatic but you get the point. Life has a way of catching us off guard.
Surprises, and not always delightful ones, come.
I have been thinking a lot about those unsuspected surprises lately.
MAKING MEANING
From what I have seen, humans like to understand. We are meaning makers.
But what happens when there is no meaning to be found? When the situation seems senseless.
When a dizzying disaster sucker punches you leaving you dazed, what do you do?
Ask “Why?”, then fortify yourself with an earnest resolve to figure things out?
Delve deep to explore, examine, and excavate the situation until you are satisfied with your discoveries?
Crater and cave into the abyss of despair?
Ride the roller coaster of emotions until you have to get off to survive?
And when we find ourselves up against something that has no answer, only the finality of a mysterious unknown, what then?
OUR MAKER’S WAY
When we cannot see or understand the meaning behind life-altering surprises, faith is vital.
The New King James Version of Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith is a substance, not some nebulous hard-to-pin-down notion. Other translations render substance as confidence. Faith is sturdy, solidifying, tethering us to unfaltering Truth.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen.
Evidence. Wild, right?
Evidence is proof, confirmation, substantiation, conviction, and persuasion.
Evidence of things not seen—ruminating on that fact can make your head hurt.
Matthew Henry offers this, “Faith proves to the mind, the reality of things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye. It is a full approval of all God has revealed, as holy, just, and good.”
WHAT HAS GOD REVEALED?
Life happens. Tragedy strikes. We are surprised.
But God.
Remembering what God has revealed to us in His word helps us navigate shocking incidents.
His radiant truths never shine brighter than in our moments of inky darkness. I have known the Spirit, like a spotlight, to illumine verses tucked away in my heart bringing much-needed comfort in distressing times.
Here are a few of God’s glorious faith-bolstering revelations.
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. Psalm 54:4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’ as even some of your own poets have said,“‘For we are indeed his offspring.” Acts 17:26-28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
God is a sure refuge. He is our constant—the one unchanging Reality we can always count on.
DO NOT FORGET
When the inconceivable happens do not forget God.
When reason tempts you to lean on your own understanding do not forget God’s faithfulness.
If you find yourself reeling in shock and unbelief do not forget He is your very present help.
Do not forget God is near, good, available, and perfect even in the most difficult situations we will ever endure.
It is only when we practically let go of faith in His power or His love, that we lose our peace and become troubled. This very day I am in great trial in connection with the work in which I am engaged; yet my soul was calmed and quieted by the remembrance of God’s power and love; and I said to myself this morning:
“As David encouraged himself in Jehovah his God, when he returned to Ziklag, so will I encourage myself in God;”
and the result was peace of soul… It is the very time for faith to work, when sight ceases. The greater the difficulties, the easier for faith. As long as there remain certain natural prospects, faith does not get on even as easily (if I may say so), as when all natural prospects fail.
George Mueller
Help us, Lord, learn to live full of faith in You—our faithful Creator and Sustainer. Whenever our peace is threatened or annihilated by one of life’s surprises, teach us to remember You. We want to live aware of Your presence at all times, walking in Your ways, receiving from your fullness.
Forgive us for all the times we live deceived in self-sufficiency, forgetful of You. Forgive us for letting go of faith in Your power and love when the shocking surprises come. Thank You for the evidence that we have forgotten You—the angst of soul and a distressed mind.
May we encourage ourselves in You until we experience peace of soul amidst the unimaginable.
Check out “See Me Though It” by Brandon Heath. Unlike the metallic tinkling of a jack-in-the-box and the jarring unpredictable Jester, this upbeat tune delivers soothing encouragement with stabilizing truths.
I love this!
So glad Cheryl!