Faithless Hope
(If you haven’t already completed TWIRL 011, please do so now)
The reality for most of us is that when our circumstances become so difficult that we are desperate for an intervention, we have a penchant for seeking a remedy for relief of the immediate anxiety. The difficult problem is still alive and kicking but we’re trying to avoid feeling it with some form of substitution for escape. Even those of us who would say that we believe in God in relationship with Christ would admit that it is often difficult to trust Him when the going gets really rough. We claim to have faith, at least for eternal life in heaven when we die, but struggle to realize our faith in times of great difficulty.
Think about it, how is it that we can believe that God will resurrect our dead bodies and souls into eternal heaven; that heaven is even a real place; but we struggle so to believe that God will show up in our crisis here in the world? Why is it that we claim to believe that God is all knowing and ever present, but we struggle to believe that God knows about our present situation of a desperate time? Why is it that we struggle to believe that God knows about our stress and our pain? Why is it that we when we are here in a bad place that we struggle to believe that Jesus Christ is here with us?
- What would you say your motivation is for recovery?
- How would you assess your level of faith as you confront the challenge of living your life sober?
- How would you say you have encountered (experienced) God in your life?
- What would you say you were feeling early on about the help you would receive as you entered into faith-driven principles for a sober lifestyle?
- Why did you pray to Jesus in the face of what feel like insurmountable urges toward unhealthy, even destructive, behavior?
- What do you have to lose if you cave in to your craving?
- What do you have to lose reaching out to God?
- What do you have to gain reaching out to God?
- What has God done for you those times that you’ve prayed?
- How would you say the intervention of Christ has changed your life?
- What are you facing today that requires God to intervene?
- What do you believe God can do for you?
- What do you believe God WILL do for you?
- Will you take the time right now to speak to Him and tell Him about what’s going on and what you need for Him to do?
- Will you ask Him for direction for what you need to do?
- Do you need a “whoosh” to know that Jesus loves you and is there with you and for you?
While we may not fully realize faith during times of difficulty, so long as we have hope in a real Savior who loves us, God is compassionate, eager and willing to jump into the fray on our behalf. Thank God for this truth! Without faith we have no hope. Even when you are not feeling all that faithful and confident, that doesn’t mean that you doubt God’s ability. It simply means that you’re scared. God will respond to the hope that what you know is real. Belief is not a feeling, it is a fact. So even when you don’t feel like you can exercise faith, exercise the hope that God is bigger and able and wants to help you. (You wouldn’t bother to pray if you had no hope) Then, listen for the voice of God in your heart for affirmation that He is involved and engaged with you.
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