Increasing our faith may take place during times when the presence of God is most evident. However, paradoxically, it is perhaps likely to take place when we are being sorely tested. It is at just those difficult times when we can learn to practise exercising faith when circumstances don't encourage us.
But we need to practise exercising it by remembering in whom we believe.
Mark describes the healings of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' outer garment and the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mk 5.21-43). In both these incidents of extreme affliction and sorrow faith is mentioned. To the woman with the haemorrhaging condition who had touched Jesus' garment in faith Jesus said, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction' (v 34); and to Jairus in the anguish precipitated by the news that his daughter had died, Jesus said, 'Do not be afraid; only believe'.
In both these people, faith was exercised in Jesus as the healer.
The common belief that just faith in faith is what is required is fallacious. I don't doubt that people may be helped or even healed by having faith in what they cannot name but God has been revealed in his Son and it is in the Son that we are required to have faith.
We are also to remember that it's not the strength or size of our faith that matters; it is the trustworthiness of the One in whom we trust . . . .
'for it is better to have a weak faith in a very strong bridge than a strong faith in a weak bridge' --words spoken by our priest-in-charge Heather Sunday last.
But we need to practise exercising it by remembering in whom we believe.
Mark describes the healings of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' outer garment and the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mk 5.21-43). In both these incidents of extreme affliction and sorrow faith is mentioned. To the woman with the haemorrhaging condition who had touched Jesus' garment in faith Jesus said, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction' (v 34); and to Jairus in the anguish precipitated by the news that his daughter had died, Jesus said, 'Do not be afraid; only believe'.
In both these people, faith was exercised in Jesus as the healer.
The common belief that just faith in faith is what is required is fallacious. I don't doubt that people may be helped or even healed by having faith in what they cannot name but God has been revealed in his Son and it is in the Son that we are required to have faith.
We are also to remember that it's not the strength or size of our faith that matters; it is the trustworthiness of the One in whom we trust . . . .
'for it is better to have a weak faith in a very strong bridge than a strong faith in a weak bridge' --words spoken by our priest-in-charge Heather Sunday last.
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