EVERAL YEARS AGO, when he was about three years old, my grandson, Chad, developed a fear of the dark. One evening, while tucking him in, Chad's daddy was trying to allay his fears. He assured Chad that he was there to watch over him, but even more importantly, God was always there to watch over and protect him. Chad thought about this for a moment and then asked, "Daddy, has God got a gun?"
It wasn't that Chad didn't believe his daddy, but he wanted to know HOW God was able to protect him. He wanted something tangible that his little mind could understand. He wanted to have the cold, hard facts!
Through the years, as I have become more familiar with God's promises, I know that His is the Word of a Gentleman and that He keeps His Word. I know I can believe and trust Him. But, nevertheless, I am human and sometimes struggle with my own doubts and shortcomings.
ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL also had this struggle. He brought his son to Jesus to be healed. The boy had been sick for a long and the father was longing to see his son whole and well. Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." The father's immediate response was to cry out with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Jesus did! He didn't condemn the man. He didn't say, "Oh, that’s too bad! Better luck next time!" He understood and He extended His mercy to both the man and his son (Mark 9:17-27).
That passage has been comforting to me through the years as I, too, have brought burdens before Christ. From a limited, human perspective, some situations have seemed hopeless. Often, like this father of long-ago, I, too, have said with tears, "Lord, I believe! But, please, help my unbelief."
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
THAT FATHER HOPED for a son that was well. In his heart, he had pictured it. But, the reality of a son who was still desperately ill was still there and Christ understood. Faith is a process. It isn’t something that you can just totally have like buying a sack of potatoes. It comes from reading the Bible and knowing God’s promises. It comes from facing each trial and claiming those promises--one at a time. Each time we step into a new area of hope and trust, that faith grows.
Chad's daddy had to tell him, "No, Chad, God doesn’t need a gun." Chad's challenge with faith had begun.
Copyright © 1997 by Virtual Christian Magazine. All rights reserved.