Faith in Chaos

Picture the dawn after a night of storms, when the waves of hardship left a shipwreck on the shore of our own certainty. At first light, you squint your eyes trying to make sense of the chaos. You see twisted metal, shards of dreams, and remnants of what used to be whole. Could anything good come from this ruination? That's the question that echoes in the chambers of our souls, the morning after life's tempests have had their way. In the face of tragedy, faith is our lighthouse, and today we stand here, not to fear the tempest, but to be fortified by it.

Battling the Invisible Foe

The enemy of our soul lurks in the shadows of doubt, ever scheming to eradicate hope and extinguish the flame of faith that guides us through darkness. This adversary is relentless, prowling like a roaring lion ready to devour dreams, peace, and joy. It seeks to lay waste to the gardens of our souls, sowing weeds of fear where there should be seeds of trust. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy," as John 10:10 warns us, but we are not left defenseless. Our shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, arm us against such incursions. In recognition of this enduring struggle, let us not be lulled into complacency; instead, let us stand firm, vigilant, and rebuke the shadows with the light of Truth that burns within us.

The Triumph of a Hymn Born in Sorrow

Amidst waves of unimaginable loss, Horatio Spafford penned the enduring hymn "It Is Well With My Soul," a testament to the resilience and steadfast faith in the face of life's most crushing defeats. Having received word of the tragic shipwreck that took the lives of his four daughters, Spafford crossed the same ocean to reunite with his grieving wife. It was upon these rolling waters, near where his children perished, that the Holy Spirit breathed a song of surrender into his heart—one that declared, "Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul." Can a heart truly learn to sing amidst the wreckage? Spafford's undying hymn answers with a resounding yes, reminding us that even as tears obscure our vision, faith can illuminate a path of peace, transforming our deepest sorrows into a hymn that rises above the tempest and echoes through the ages of time.

There are certain and undeniable truthes that will help and strenghthen us during times as this.

1: Vigilance:

Peter's words cut like a sword: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." (1 Peter 5:8-9)

This compelling passage calls upon us to awaken from our slumber, to be ever vigilant and resolute in the face of the encroaching darkness. With relentless fervor, we must stand guard over the sanctity of our hearts and the clarity of our minds, recognizing that the battles we confront are not merely our own, but shared by the faithful across the vast expanse of the globe. It is in the unity of our spirits, bound by a common purpose, that our resistance against adversity becomes an indomitable force, capable of withstanding the test of time. Anchored in the resolute truth, our collective strength becomes an unwavering beacon of hope, illuminating the path forward amidst the shadows of uncertainty.

Im reminded of my time in the Air Force on training exercises the heightened alertness and awareness that I experienced knowing that around one corner or behind the next door was a adversay trying to kill me.

not only is it intense but it is exhausting. That is why we must always be near our source of strenghth and courage.

Peter speaks of vigilance, of guarding our hearts and minds with the focus of an expectant watchman. It is easy to close our eyes to the harsh truths, to let the dimness of our understanding cloud the path. But, we are called to stand guard, to keep watch over the garden of our thoughts, for it is from this wellspring that life's battles are fought. Will we let despair be our watchman, or will we stand as vigilant daughters and sons?

2: Limited Understanding:

1 Corinthians 13:12 compels us to acknowledge our reflection in life's mirror as dim, our understanding as limited. It's an admission—not of defeat but of humility—understanding that our perception is finite and often flawed. Where knowledge fails, faith must rise, for faith is the bridge that spans the chasm between what we can see and the grand design of the divine. Let us not be discouraged by the limitations of our understanding, but energized by the possibilities faith unfolds before us. We must also rememer that not only is there a possiblity that the enemy may pownce from the next corner but that the next corner may the way of escape or refusge from the Lord.

3: Engaged Faith:

Our third point is a call to action—a faith that is alive, burning with the fervor of engagement. In the face of tragedy, let this not merely be a test of faith but the crucible in which our faith is refined. Engaged faith is the soil in which hope grows tall, where love takes root and bears fruit. It requires our hands, hearts, and spirits in the labor of belief. Here we do not stand passively, but with a faith that pushes us to new heights, with courage to navigate the unknown, and strength to grow where we once thought life could not flourish.

Should we neglect to engage our faith, we risk the stagnation of our spirit and the wilting of our hope. Without action, faith is but a dormant seed buried deep within the fallow ground of complacency, yearning to break through and seek the nourishing light of the Lord. We must remember the poignant words of James 2:17 which assert, "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." A faith untested, unchallenged by the trials and tribulations of life, may falter when faced with the Goliaths of our times. Inaction breeds doubt, and where there is doubt, the enemy finds a fissure to strike, driving a wedge between us and the divine promises bestowed upon us. If we fail to embrace our faith with unwavering conviction, we risk losing the divine protection that shields us, just as Peter stumbled when he stepped onto the water. When the waves of uncertainty crash upon us, we too may be engulfed. Let us ignite the flame of our faith, lest we drift aimlessly, cut off from the guiding light of eternal truth and love. Let us not become like a shipwreck, lost and forsaken.

Conclusion:

We leave this sanctuary not as those who have heard sermons, but as those who have been called to a remarkable adventure of the soul. In the vigilance of each day, in the acknowledgment of our limited understanding, in the engagement of our faith, we find a path illuminated by the divine spark that resides within each of us. With wide open eyes, and hearts set on the eternal, let us walk boldly, knowing that the dim mirror of life will one day be exchanged for the clarity of truth in the arms of our Creator.