“Faith’s only real demand on us is that we trustfully keep moving forward into the unknown. How things turn out in the end is not up to us.” ~ Paula Huston
Walking the path of life, while maintaining faith, can be a tricky project. There are so many distractions. Alluring temptations of power, fame, and the savory or sensational wave us in their direction. Pitfalls of disappointment, resentment, sadness and grief whisper to us that we are all alone. These interferences lead us on a well-worn trail that is ego-driven and desolate. Faith becomes a meaningless notion when the results depend upon us. After all, in the words of author Richard Leonard, SJ; “Where the hell is God?” Where is God when we are tempted? Where is God when we are full of grief? Where is God when things go wrong? Why are my prayers falling on deaf ears? Why should we have such capricious faith anyway?
God is not distant. This is the promise of faith. The experience of living in the world with the pleasures and storms which come our way can be challenging. There are no guarantees that things will be easy just because we have faith. What we have is a God who never leaves us. We can go to the depths and rise to the heights but God hangs right in there. The answer to the question ‘Where the hell is God’ comes as a gentle whisper saying; “I am with you always. Everything I have is yours.”When we are battered and beaten, God is at our side. When we fall and skin our knees, God is there to be with us. We cannot be separated. Faith is simply an acceptance of that truth.
Today I will step out with the assurance that I am not stepping out on my own. I am held in the arms of a loving God.
Robert Kenneth Jones is an innovator in the treatment of addiction and childhood abuse.
In a career spanning over four decades, his work helping people recover from childhood abuse and addiction has earned him the respect of his peers.
His blog, An Elephant for Breakfast, testifies to the power of the human spirit to overcome the worst of life’s difficulties. We encourage you to visit and share this rich source of healing, inspiration and meditation.
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Bob Jones’ blog An Elephant for Breakfast