An Element of Faith

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
— 2 Corinthians 1:8

In my reading today the passage reveals how human the apostles were. The writer felt it was vital that the readers realized this, stating "we do not want you to be ignorant" - there were times when they "despaired even of life"!

Greg Laurie comments that doubt and despair are not necessarily bad or sinful - in fact, it shows a mind which is working, considering, struggling with something - it is an element of faith.

A French proverb says, "He that knows nothing doubts nothing." Sometimes doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith. It means we are thinking something through. We are grappling with it. We are trying to process and understand it. And sometimes we have to go through the foyer of doubt to enter into the sanctuary of certainty.

Doubting is not necessarily sinful. Doubt is a matter of the mind, while unbelief is a matter of the will. Doubt says, "I don't get it. Help me understand this. Work with me through this." But unbelief says, "I get it. I don't like it. And I refuse to accept it."


- Posted using my iPhone