I received a letter recently that took me back in my memory to a difficult time in my life, one that I did not handle with faith or grace. I was a Christian at the time; however, I did not particularly respond to pressure as a person who believed in the amazing love and miraculous power of Jesus.   Assessing my actions now, I am quite sure that I did not have a foundation of faith.

For Christians, the foundation of our lives is Jesus, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ…” (1 Corinthians 3:11). It is faith, though, that affixes our lives on Him, particularly in the trying and tragic times of life.

That is not to say we will not have doubts now and again. Thomas had doubts but he eventually returned to the room where the disciples were hiding in fear of the authorities; and Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas there. The best thing we can do with our doubts is to talk to God about them. I appreciate Habakkuk’s lament as he begins his oracle, “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save?” Yet he ends his narrative with this exclamation, “…I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places” (Habakkuk 1:2; 3:18, 19). Between the first verse and the last, God and the prophet carried on a conversation—Habakkuk poured out his concerns and complaints while God told his servant what He was already accomplishing. In the midst of their conversation, God reminded him “but the righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).

Like me, many people attempt to comfort the pain in their hearts with damaging habits, substances, activities, or relationships. I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit who leads us back home to the Father when we finally “come to our senses!” Sadly, many Christians believe that religious duty is what we need to be truly “spiritual”; yet when disappointment or tragedy strikes, religious obligation does very little to comfort our aching hearts. For those who base their lives on religious formulas or adherence to particular dogmas, when God doesn’t seem to be upholding his end of the bargain, they may become overly introspective about where they may be failing in some point of the law (been there, done that) or turn away from God in disgruntlement or rebellion (have done that, also).

I have finally come to understand that the things that challenge our lives and break our hearts will continue to do so until we release them, and our hearts, into the capable hands of Jesus. Easier said than done, of course; but as we grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, abandoning our lives to Him will grow increasingly natural. As Paul continues his discourse to the Corinthians, he gives insight on how that is possible: “…Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done” (1 Corinthians 3:12, 13).

The interesting thing is that our faith is even more valuable than gold, as the apostle Peter teaches, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3, 6-7).

With my eldest son deployed to Afghanistan this week, I find myself in one of those vulnerable places before the Lord. God knows I’m scared – I didn’t need to tell Him, but I did; I will not let fear consume me, however, because “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:6). I understand that many war wounds are not visible, but I am clinging to the One who came to “bind up the brokenhearted”, who brings gladness and joy, and replaces our faint spirits with praise (Isaiah 61:1-3). I trust the one who is good and does good (Psalm 119:68), and who “makes all things work together for good”, for we are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

I am thankful for His promise, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22); and Peter’s encouragement, “…casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

With all that is going on in the world, in our homes, our work, and our communities, one song continues to echo through my heart:

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

-Edward Mote-