TOUCH AND GO

Is there any more aggravating or stressful situation than one with too many layers of uncertainty? It might be seem wonderful to always know what tomorrow will bring, but it never is reality for most circumstances.

However, I think most of us try in some way to add a little security to our existence despite this fact. What we do depends on our view of things such as faith, positive thinking and perhaps whatever other elements influence our thinking.

What I find interesting it the number of times I've known people who would try to claim they had this incredible faith in God, but they fretted over every little detail in life. It is amazing how easy it is for some reason to lie to themselves.

I think God prefers honesty in our dealings with him. Everyone has moments that trial our souls and make us feel that disquieting sense of not sure how an event will turn out. But I don't feel it accomplishes anything to pretend we are immune to such emotions. And I doubt think God is impressed either.

Can one truly be so spiritual and perfect as to never doubt? Perhaps. I just know I haven't reach that level of maturity in my own experience or thinking. So if that confession in any way would surprise anyone, I live with the reality.

Which is perhaps part of the reason I feel a need to even devote this posting to this topic even though I have discussed it before. The plain fact is too often it seems people just can't feel comfortable in a circle of believers if it translates into admitting to such weaknesses. It is as if being a Christian you suddenly put on this garment of perfection and never sinned again or had any doubts.

Of course the truth in no way comes close to that fact. And I'm often comforted by the way our Lord dealt with his disciples. He knew their weakness and failings. Yet, he didn't reject them for such flaws.

The one thing Jesus did do was bring each disciple to that crossroads of confrontation where the follower had to face the truth about his fallings. This was to teach grace, to demonstrate the depth of God's love and I feel more than anything to help communicate the need to depend on Jesus for salvation.

How easy it is to lost sight of that reality even though we are all supposed to know it as believers. It is so easy to fall into chasm of doubt and not realize it. But at the point when we do, the great joy comes from being able to turn once again and lean upon God's grace by faith instead of offering up excuses for our sins.

Hopefully, along the way we learn the touch and go of spiritually in terms of our closeness to the lord. If we gain from that lesson then we are the most blessed of creatures. Which is the kind of wealth that truly enriches the heart as no other gold can ever accomplish.