Hope is My Anchor
Strength for your soul amid life's storms October 2004
_________________________________________________________________
People occasionally tell me that I have a "strong faith." I’m not sure what that means!
I wish I had a greater faith. It can take a month of wrestling with God, of tears, anger,
frustration, exhaustion, depression—to come to the conclusions I write in my
newsletters. Sometimes I give up my searching for answers and for God. Many
months I have more chocolate than faith.
Sometimes I’m just plain too tired to go on that day—or even that week. Why not just
give up? I sometimes wonder. Usually the thought that someone else is going through
as much or more pain than I am compels me to go back to my searching again. Often I
look at Dave and know I can’t give up—then his suffering might be meaningless. I’m
not willing to allow that to happen.
Faith does not mean you don’t hurt. Wrestling with God is risky and painful.
Jacob wrestled with God; his hip went out of its socket and he walked with a limp the
rest of his life. Having the faith that God is with us through the hard times does not
negate pain.
Faith doesn’t grow without a struggle. We remember Paul rejoicing in prison and
think he just came by that naturally. We forget verses like 2 Cor. 1:8 where Paul
confesses that his hardship was so severe he despaired even of life. His joy was not
automatic but hard-fought.
Paul had the added benefit of knowing that he was suffering for the sake of the
Gospel—he was imprisoned, beaten, stoned, flogged—all because he wouldn’t stop
telling others about Christ. Is my husband’s Lyme Satan’s persecution, or just the
result of living in this fallen world? I don’t have the benefit of knowing that, though I
cling to God’s promise that He uses all things, ALL things, for the good of those who
love the Lord. So I pray it will be for our good, and for the good of others who love
the Lord, and those yet to love the Lord. I pray that Dave’s suffering will never be
meaningless. It is a prayer I believe in wholeheartedly. But that doesn’t take away
Dave’s pain or mine, or the pain Paul felt, or the pain that the believers listed in
Hebrews 11 felt.
Pastor James Macdonald wrote, in his devotional The Weekly Walk, "Faith is not
some stupid positive mental attitude, a you-have-to-keep-believing thing. It’s not
ignoring pain by embracing optimism. That’s foolishness, not faith."
Faith does not mean you never get angry. In the book of Ruth, Naomi asked her
friends to call her "Mara." Mara means bitterness. God had made her life bitter, and
she wanted her name, her identity to reflect that. We seem afraid of such honesty. It’s
as if we think God isn’t big enough to take the hits that might come His way if we
confess that God’s presence doesn’t always erase our pain. Now there’s an
interesting thought, that we could protect God! Sounds silly to put it in such terms—
and yet sometimes that’s how we act without thinking it through.
I’ve found God is more than big enough—His sovereignty covers all, both the good in
my life and the bad, the awful, the ugly, the pain of Lyme. He allows it, continues to
allow it, why? I don’t know. God has not seen fit to raise me up to His level by sharing
His plan with me! In fact, He told me not to trust in my own understanding (Proverbs 3:
5-6). And when I ask God, "just tell me why, show me your plan, show me the way!"
He says, "Jesus is the way. Fix your eyes on Him." For now, the person of Jesus is all
I have, and God has said He is more than sufficient.
Faith doesn’t depend on us getting our way. God doesn’t always choose to take
away our pain. I think sometimes He allows us to go through it for reasons we don’t
understand—and we ask, "then where IS God, and what good is His presence in my
life?" His presence is in people like you and me who wrestle—who get angry, who
cry, who are afraid, who get exhausted and depressed—and yet retain their faith in
Him. That is grace. Outside of His grace, I believe we would all fall away. Why would
we hang onto our faith?
Thomas Merton wrote,
How could my faith be possible, were it not for God, pouring out His grace on
me, shielding me by His power?
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has
given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for
you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Pet 1:3-5
A living hope! So often hope feels dead, pointless, futile. Hope deferred indeed
makes the heart grow sick. But our true hope is living, because Christ is living. What
an interesting juxtaposition: living, and hope. Living is today, here, now. Hope is
tomorrow. It is pain and joy mingled together, wrapped up in this life to know this
Living Hope.
Faith is not fought for alone. Donna Partow tells a story about the musk oxen in
Alaska. When the wolves begin to howl, the grown musk ox form a circle around the
young to protect them. They are one of only two species that don’t run and leave the
weaker animals vulnerable to attack.
When we pray for one another, we are surrounding each other with an impenetrable
spiritual fortress. Without that prayer, without help and hugs and meals and support,
we leave each other alone, vulnerable, wide open to attack. We don’t have to be
eloquent leaders or "super-religious" to have faith like a musk ox. We can be a dumb,
brute beast, and God will honor that prayer. Sometimes the most eloquent thing I can
think of is, "God, help!" The beauty of faith is it doesn’t depend on us for its power.
The power of faith is in its object—God.
Do I have a great faith? I don’t know. But I do know I have a great God.
In Christ,
Merry Marinello
Strength for your soul amid life's storms October 2004
_________________________________________________________________
People occasionally tell me that I have a "strong faith." I’m not sure what that means!
I wish I had a greater faith. It can take a month of wrestling with God, of tears, anger,
frustration, exhaustion, depression—to come to the conclusions I write in my
newsletters. Sometimes I give up my searching for answers and for God. Many
months I have more chocolate than faith.
Sometimes I’m just plain too tired to go on that day—or even that week. Why not just
give up? I sometimes wonder. Usually the thought that someone else is going through
as much or more pain than I am compels me to go back to my searching again. Often I
look at Dave and know I can’t give up—then his suffering might be meaningless. I’m
not willing to allow that to happen.
Faith does not mean you don’t hurt. Wrestling with God is risky and painful.
Jacob wrestled with God; his hip went out of its socket and he walked with a limp the
rest of his life. Having the faith that God is with us through the hard times does not
negate pain.
Faith doesn’t grow without a struggle. We remember Paul rejoicing in prison and
think he just came by that naturally. We forget verses like 2 Cor. 1:8 where Paul
confesses that his hardship was so severe he despaired even of life. His joy was not
automatic but hard-fought.
Paul had the added benefit of knowing that he was suffering for the sake of the
Gospel—he was imprisoned, beaten, stoned, flogged—all because he wouldn’t stop
telling others about Christ. Is my husband’s Lyme Satan’s persecution, or just the
result of living in this fallen world? I don’t have the benefit of knowing that, though I
cling to God’s promise that He uses all things, ALL things, for the good of those who
love the Lord. So I pray it will be for our good, and for the good of others who love
the Lord, and those yet to love the Lord. I pray that Dave’s suffering will never be
meaningless. It is a prayer I believe in wholeheartedly. But that doesn’t take away
Dave’s pain or mine, or the pain Paul felt, or the pain that the believers listed in
Hebrews 11 felt.
Pastor James Macdonald wrote, in his devotional The Weekly Walk, "Faith is not
some stupid positive mental attitude, a you-have-to-keep-believing thing. It’s not
ignoring pain by embracing optimism. That’s foolishness, not faith."
Faith does not mean you never get angry. In the book of Ruth, Naomi asked her
friends to call her "Mara." Mara means bitterness. God had made her life bitter, and
she wanted her name, her identity to reflect that. We seem afraid of such honesty. It’s
as if we think God isn’t big enough to take the hits that might come His way if we
confess that God’s presence doesn’t always erase our pain. Now there’s an
interesting thought, that we could protect God! Sounds silly to put it in such terms—
and yet sometimes that’s how we act without thinking it through.
I’ve found God is more than big enough—His sovereignty covers all, both the good in
my life and the bad, the awful, the ugly, the pain of Lyme. He allows it, continues to
allow it, why? I don’t know. God has not seen fit to raise me up to His level by sharing
His plan with me! In fact, He told me not to trust in my own understanding (Proverbs 3:
5-6). And when I ask God, "just tell me why, show me your plan, show me the way!"
He says, "Jesus is the way. Fix your eyes on Him." For now, the person of Jesus is all
I have, and God has said He is more than sufficient.
Faith doesn’t depend on us getting our way. God doesn’t always choose to take
away our pain. I think sometimes He allows us to go through it for reasons we don’t
understand—and we ask, "then where IS God, and what good is His presence in my
life?" His presence is in people like you and me who wrestle—who get angry, who
cry, who are afraid, who get exhausted and depressed—and yet retain their faith in
Him. That is grace. Outside of His grace, I believe we would all fall away. Why would
we hang onto our faith?
Thomas Merton wrote,
How could my faith be possible, were it not for God, pouring out His grace on
me, shielding me by His power?
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has
given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for
you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Pet 1:3-5
A living hope! So often hope feels dead, pointless, futile. Hope deferred indeed
makes the heart grow sick. But our true hope is living, because Christ is living. What
an interesting juxtaposition: living, and hope. Living is today, here, now. Hope is
tomorrow. It is pain and joy mingled together, wrapped up in this life to know this
Living Hope.
Faith is not fought for alone. Donna Partow tells a story about the musk oxen in
Alaska. When the wolves begin to howl, the grown musk ox form a circle around the
young to protect them. They are one of only two species that don’t run and leave the
weaker animals vulnerable to attack.
When we pray for one another, we are surrounding each other with an impenetrable
spiritual fortress. Without that prayer, without help and hugs and meals and support,
we leave each other alone, vulnerable, wide open to attack. We don’t have to be
eloquent leaders or "super-religious" to have faith like a musk ox. We can be a dumb,
brute beast, and God will honor that prayer. Sometimes the most eloquent thing I can
think of is, "God, help!" The beauty of faith is it doesn’t depend on us for its power.
The power of faith is in its object—God.
Do I have a great faith? I don’t know. But I do know I have a great God.
In Christ,
Merry Marinello
Faith Like a Musk Ox
"It is only the infinite mercy and love of God that has prevented us from
tearing ourselves to pieces and destroying His entire creation long ago.
People seem to think that it is in some way a proof that no merciful God
exists, if we have so many wars. On the contrary, consider how in spite of
centuries of sin and greed and lust and cruelty and hatred and avarice and
oppression and injustice, spawned and bred by the free wills of men, the
human race can still recover, each time, and can still produce men and
women who overcome evil with good, hatred with love, greed with charity,
lust and cruelty with sanctity. How could all this be possible without the
merciful love of God, pouring out His grace upon us?"
tearing ourselves to pieces and destroying His entire creation long ago.
People seem to think that it is in some way a proof that no merciful God
exists, if we have so many wars. On the contrary, consider how in spite of
centuries of sin and greed and lust and cruelty and hatred and avarice and
oppression and injustice, spawned and bred by the free wills of men, the
human race can still recover, each time, and can still produce men and
women who overcome evil with good, hatred with love, greed with charity,
lust and cruelty with sanctity. How could all this be possible without the
merciful love of God, pouring out His grace upon us?"
© 2004 Dave and Merry Marinello, all rights reserved.
Welcome! Thanks for visiting our little "harbor" amid life's storms. We hope you
will find rest and encouragement in your struggles, big or small. Here you can:
will find rest and encouragement in your struggles, big or small. Here you can:
"Faith Like a Musk Ox" September 2004 Newsletter
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Hope is My Anchor
Strength for your soul amid life's storms
Strength for your soul amid life's storms
Join us at Yahoo Groups to receive the Hope is My Anchor
newsletter. Please contact us if you have any difficulty joining.
newsletter. Please contact us if you have any difficulty joining.