Believe +

Jesus said to him; “Go; your son will live.”
The man believed the word that Jesus spoke
to him and started on his way.
-John 4: 50

From the time we’re born and become conscious of things around us, we begin to believe in all kinds of things. In our early years, we believe in happy things – Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy.  As we grow older those things we believe are gradually replaced with much more serious things – the state of our world, the nature of humanity, what we know about ourselves.  

In both cases, often times to believe also means to trust.   Both believing and trusting can be very hard in the circumstances of our lives. It requires us to be vulnerable and to let go of other things that push and crowd their way in.  If I believe or trust, will I be hurt?  Can I truly count on that in which I believe or trust? 

As followers of Jesus, we’re given another gift that helps to wrap these together – faith.  To believe, to trust, to have faith is not a wish, or a faint hope. It’s our active engagement in God’s promise, brought and bought for us in God’s only begotten son, and sends us on our way.  

-Chris Winchell

 Let us pray…

 My God, you are my source of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. I believe and trust that in times of both joy and sorrow, you are with me. Increase my faith that rests in the promise of your love, in the name of your Son. Amen.