When Faith Died

I remember a time when I felt like my faith was truly put to the test. It was one of those moments where you start asking, 'What if God isn't going to show up?' It's a scary place to be, feeling like you're losing hope in God, and that's when you wonder if your faith really means anything. I was reflecting on the story of Martha and Mary, and how it perfectly illustrates these struggles. When Jesus was coming, Martha rushed out to meet him, distraught. 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,' she cried, a sentiment that many of us have echoed in our own moments of despair. Her words, 'If you had been here,' speak to that deep sense of disappointment and the feeling that God has let us down or arrived too late. It’s easy to feel that our faith has died in such circumstances. But even in her grief, Martha declared, 'But I know, that even now, whatever you ask of God, God will give you.' This is a powerful testament to a struggling faith that still holds onto a thread of hope. It makes you think about 'faith without works' – not in the sense of earning salvation, but in the active, ongoing trust and engagement even when things look bleak. What are the 'works' of faith when you're heartbroken? Sometimes, it's simply showing up, speaking your truth to God, and allowing yourself to be comforted, as Mary later did. Jesus said unto her, 'Your brother will rise again.' And Martha, thinking of the future, replied, 'I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' But Jesus then uttered those profound words: 'I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.' This wasn't just about a future event; it was about His presence and power right then. This story helps me understand that while 'faith without works' can be seen as idle, the 'works' sometimes involve a profound inner shift – a willingness to believe in God's presence and power even when all external evidence points to loss. My own journey has taught me that even when it feels like hope has died, God is still working. It’s about being Faithful Then / Faithful Now, embracing the paradox that our deepest doubts can sometimes lead to our strongest affirmations of faith. It's about remembering that even when we're at our lowest, and it feels like we're losing hope in God, He is there, offering comfort and demonstrating His life-giving power.