Act of Faith

5 min read

25 We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.

— Psalm 44:25-26

This may be one of the most difficult psalms in the Book of Psalms, especially considering that this is how the psalm ends. At the same time, this ending might be one of the most powerful expressions of faith in the entire Bible.

We cannot escape the reality that we live in a broken world. Not only do we have to deal with the sinfulness of humanity and our own sinfulness, because of the curse of sin, we live on a planet that is often hostile to our well-being.

And so this psalm raises the questions that may be found coming forth from our lips in the worst of times: Where are You, God? Have You forsaken us? Why have You forsaken us, Lord?

And that last question may be the most baffling of of all if our lives seem to be order with respect to our relationship with God.

But then, who are we to say that our lives are in order with respect to our relationship with our all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, eternal God? Sin is festering in our lives in ways that we know little to nothing about. And even if (a doubtful if) our lives are in a right relationship with God, what about our community or our nation? COVID was a fearsome reminder that the sins of our nation and the world will result in dire consequences whether we are living righteously or not!

When faced with the consequences of the curse of sin in this world and in our lives, that is when our faith is tested. And our faith most definitely must be tested. If our faith is not tested, how can we ever know that we actually have faith? How can our faith ever actually grow?

When faced with the consequences of the curse of sin in this world, how are we, then, to respond? There may be as many ways to respond as there are people on this planet. But a true act of faith is to trust in God even if the result is loss, even death.

A true act of faith is to call out to God for help, understanding that He is our only hope. A true act of faith is to call out to God for help, even when there is no help in sight. A true act of faith is to call out to God for help, trusting that He hears us and understands our pain and weeps over us. A true act of faith is to call out to God for help, believing to the very core of our being that He will rescue us, and if not in this life, in the next.

Gracious Father, I cry out to You for help—and not just for me, but for all the brothers and sisters in this Canvas family who are hurting and struggling. Rise up and help us God! Where else are we supposed to turn for help if not to You. You are our hope! You are our help! You are our salvation! Come and rescue us according to Your unfailing love! In Jesus’s name. Amen.