Crisis of Faith

“Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord …Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’” Acts 9:1-4 NASB

For some, belief comes easy. They naturally trust Christ and believe the Bible. Others learn from tradition or family. But others come to faith because of some crisis. Some have been hostile to the Gospel and critical of Christians, until something dramatic happens that shakes them, and causes them to challenge their worldview.

A crisis, in fact, can be the best thing that ever happened to us. As author Catherine Marshall commented, these crises bring us “face to face with our inadequacy and our inadequacy in turn leads us to the inexhaustible sufficiency of God.”

Perhaps the Bible’s most famous crisis of faith came for the Apostle Paul, who had been a committed enemy of Jesus’ followers. But everything changed after he had a dramatic encounter with Jesus Himself. Instantly, his confidence was shattered. He became vulnerable, ready to put aside his preconceived ideas, open to the truth. This man who formerly persecuted Believers became a passionate advocate.

Others experience crises resulting from physical problems, like a blind man who was healed by Jesus’ touch. Trying to explain what happened, he responded, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). His life never would be the same.

There are many ways that God can get our attention, sometimes in dramatic ways. But other times He acts quietly, subtly.

Do you know someone who resists the Gospel? Remember that God cares for them. Believe that He can intervene, and change them. Pray for them. Pray that their hearts would be softened. That they would be open to receive His love. And make sure that you really believe.

Prayer: Father, I commit these people into Your hands: _______. I pray that You would intervene in their lives. Do a work that they might commit their lives to Jesus. In His name. Amen.