Just come

Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ. (John 11:27) 

When we first think of St. Martha, we probably remember the story of hardworking Martha and her “contemplative” sister, Mary, who didn’t help her in the kitchen (Luke 10:38-42). Many of us probably have felt sorry for Martha when Jesus rebuked her.

But today, on Martha’s feast day, we read a different story. We don’t see busy Martha, complaining Martha, or worried and anxious Martha. We see steady Martha, who has the confidence to go out to meet Jesus and proclaim her faith in him—even in her grief. Martha has changed.

But how did this happen? She has “come to believe” (John 11:27). And so can we.

Martha’s faith was not a one-time event but a progressive growth in understanding of who Jesus was and what it meant to trust him. In this situation with her brother’s illness and death, Martha’s faith grew gradually as she spoke with Jesus and listened to him carefully. She knew that he was the Savior sent into this world. She trusted that he could heal their ailing brother, but she didn’t understand why Jesus deliberately delayed his coming. So she brought her confusion to him. 

Martha knew that Lazarus would rise on the last day, but she wasn’t sure what Jesus might do “even now” (John 11:22). She just wanted to be near him. So Jesus took the opportunity to speak with her, patiently asking questions that helped her to search her heart. And perhaps amazed herself, she was able to say, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe” (11:27). Then she ran to offer her sister the same opportunity. 

Our faith develops in the same incremental way. Jesus invites us to trust him. We express the little faith we have: “I do believe, help my unbelief,” and we tell Jesus what we don’t understand (Mark 9:24). Then he leads us little by little to a fuller understanding of who he is.

Don’t be afraid to question Jesus. Tell him what doesn’t make sense to you. Ask what small step he is inviting you to take, and try to be obedient. Then come back and ask again. Little by little, your flicker of faith will grow into a blazing fire.

“Jesus, I have come to believe in you. Help me to take the next step.”

from wau.org

Looking forward

The Lord is with you, O champion! (Judges 6:12)

Put yourself in Gideon’s sandals for a moment. As a child, you grew up with stories of God rescuing his people from oppression. Years later, you watched the nation of Midian overpower Israel, and your faith in God suffered a major blow. He doesn’t fight for us anymore, you thought. Then one day, a messenger from God shows up. He tells you to go save Israel, because the Lord is with you! Doubts begin to flood your mind, and instead of stepping forward, you turn your gaze backward. Where was God when … ?

What do you do when God nudges you forward? If you’re like most of us, you may find yourself contemplating the past instead of dreaming about the future. You may dwell on the times when it didn’t work out and forget all the times God was with you.

“I don’t know if anyone I’ve ever prayed for has been healed, so what’s the point?” “Peace with that person would be wonderful, but our relationship is beyond repair.” “I’ve never been able to overcome this habit; why should this time be any different?” “I don’t think they’ll ever come back to church, so there’s not much use in inviting them.”

Nevertheless, God is overflowing with patience and kindness toward us! He knows how quickly we can doubt. He also knows that we can be genuinely uncertain as to whether or not we’re hearing his voice correctly. That’s why he will sometimes confirm his message. He did this with Gideon, not just once, but three separate times!

What’s more, he assures us that as we step forward, he is going to be with us. The angel’s first words to Gideon were “The Lord is with you” (Judges 6:12). This ultimately allowed Gideon to turn his focus from his strength—small as it was—to God’s strength. Indeed, nothing is impossible for God. Eventually, of course, Gideon answered the Lord’s call, and God rescued his people again.

Today, when you sense God nudging you forward, don’t let your gaze shift backwards! Keep looking to him for confirmation and courage. Working with him step-by-step, there’s no limit to what he can accomplish through you.

“I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength!”

from wau.org

"My Lord and my God"

Unless I see … I will not believe. (John 20:25)

Try to imagine yourself in Thomas’ sandals. How do you feel when Jesus appears? No doubt, you are astounded to see him alive. Certainly, you are awestruck to see him as the risen, glorious Lord. Perhaps you become lost in worship as you look into his eyes and touch his wounds. You are filled with gratitude as you realize that he has accomplished nothing less than the salvation of the world.

But if you were Thomas, you might feel like laughing at yourself as well! You’ve spent three years with Jesus, watching him heal the blind and the lame, drive out demons, and raise the dead. You heard how the tomb was found empty and the stone rolled away and how Mary Magdalene and the others saw Jesus alive. But still you wanted proof. And now here he is, standing right in front of you. It’s almost as if he’s saying, “Thomas, it really is me! Trust me; I will never abandon you.”

It may be hard to imagine Thomas as finally being relieved of his doubts and even chuckling over them. Besides, it can be very easy for us to identify with the first part of his story—especially when we ourselves feel stressed or anxious. We may be going through a serious illness, financial problems, or some other crisis, or maybe something horrible is happening to someone we are close to. We may wonder if God is really going to come through and help. We may even blame ourselves for not having enough faith.

Whenever this happens, think of Thomas. Let Jesus tell you the same thing he told this wavering apostle: “Look at me and trust! Believe, even when you cannot see.” Who knows? He may even tell you to laugh in the face of your problem. Jesus promises that if you take just one small step in handing over everything to God “with thanksgiving,” then his peace, which “surpasses all understanding,” will come to you (Philippians 4:6, 7). So no matter what you are dealing with, look at the cross, and see the finished work of Jesus. Then, with a heart full of praise, cry out, “My Lord and my God!”

“Thank you, Jesus, for being with me at every moment, in good times and bad. I praise you, Lord, for being my Savior!”

from wau.org