There are times when life — the chaos, pain and bad news around us — just becomes overwhelming. How can you cultivate a belief that things are going to turn out well…or at least, okay?
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27 replies on “Faith: With All the Bad News, Can You Cultivate a Belief that Things Will Turn Out Okay?”
In the early morning hours of March 26th I was talking to my son on the telephone as he was working on fixing a table in his house. He said he needed to get a tool from his truck and took his phone with me on the other end out to his truck. I heard him rattling around his tools and then all of a sudden silence…no more sound…I called his name several times but he didn’t answer me. I knew something was wrong. I hung up and called his wife still in the house and told her to go find Sam, that he had just stopped talking. She went out and found him…he was on the ground…he had just died of a massive heart attack. He was only 39. He was my only baby. For me, right now, things are not feeling like they’re getting better – but I pray that they will. Hug your babies tight every chance you get, never miss an opportunity to spend time with them or talk with them…you never know when it will be your final chance.
Donna, I can’t imagine. I pray you find comfort in the God of all comfort, and healing from the one who can do so with a touch or a word. Thank you for sharing this with your friends, and for the wise advice.
Thank you for your kind words and prayers Scott – they really mean a lot. I know God is good and there is a plan for each of us, although most times it’s hard for us to see. I hope his plan for Sam is a great one because he was such a good and loving man and son and had touched so many lives.
Finally got to listen to this one. Very, very good guys. HINT: God apparently made sure that I heard it at just the right time.
Great discussion! Thank you. The word FAITH has been on my mind because of this new book…
Faith Misused:
Why Christianity Is Not Just Another Religion
(This book makes the case that the word FAITH did not exist before Jesus Christ’s incarnation! It’s a compelling case and futher demonstrates another way that the Son of God changed our world FOREVER!)
“Today, we hear the word “FAITH” used in a myriad of ways. “FAITH” is placed in the stock market. Spiritual practices of any kind are called “FAITHS”. Dr. Alvin J. Schmidt argues that this use of the word would be entirely unfamiliar to the New Testament Christians. For them and in the entirety of the New Testament Scriptures, FAITH is an EXCLUSIVELY Christian word, implying true knowledge of and trust in the incarnate Christ.”
“As Dr. Schmidt writes, we need to aspire to being people of THE FAITH. Not just any will do. In FAITH MISUSED, you’ll find his case for a Christian reclaiming of the word “FAITH” from its ambiguous modern uses.”
“The Author; Rev. Dr. Alvin J. Schmidt is professor of sociology emeritus at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois, and a fellow of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. He is the author of numerous books, including the award-winning Fraternal Organizations (1980), How Christianity Changed the World (2004; now in eight different languages), and Hallmarks of Lutheran Identity (2017).”
https://www.cph.org/p-34875-faith-misused-why-christianity-is-not-just-another-religion.aspx
Always enjoy the issues Bill and Zo talk about on the Virtue Signal. Keep it up guys.
Bill, you have come so close my friend. Faith that this will turn out all right is for the nonbeliever a futile hope. Which is why the left is becoming more strident, and militant. They know a change is coming, they know it wont go well for them and they are desperately trying to change the outcome. They can’t of course but that will only make them more dangerous as time goes on.
For the believer Faith that all will turn out right isn’t a hope as in I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow but a hope assured. It will turn out alright according to God’s purposes. We are simply along for the ride. It will get bumpy and we can expect some extreme turbulence but we will land safely into His hands.
As one pilot to another whos god used to be science I implore you to consider Christ the Author of flight. We stay in the air at His good pleasure.
I e-mailed Scott my testimony some time ago to pass on to you. If you still have it now may be a good time to read it again.
Zo, you are a blessing. The mention of Christ entering Jerusalem on a donkey was perfect for a Palm Sunday.
Thank you both.
Interesting as I was just reading up on anti-natalism (a belief that conceiving/giving birth is the worst possible sin), and it sounded like what you were talking about, just taken to the extreme.
Great advice. Much appreciated. Living in France years ago, I found their outlook on these issues helpful.
Praise the God of all
Drink the wine
Let the World be the World
It occurs to me that the left is frantically pushing because they think they have to fix all of man’s problems in this lifetime. This urgency justifies violence, lying, and the creation of absurdities in order to gain Heaven on earth. Without God, they reason, who else to get it done but me? Christians understand utopia on earth is impossible. Might explain why we’re not rioting, and rarely do. We’re patiently plodding toward the biblical utopia and understand being overwhelmed is an immutable part of the human condition, but greatly mitigated by our hope and faith.
Bill and Zo, this episode is hugely helpful to me, and I thank you beyond words. I have felt unusually bleak lately, which troubles me precisely because I believe wholeheartedly that God is in His heaven and will make all things right. Why have I been unable to snap out of it? And if I’m here because there’s still work for me to do, why is it so hard to discern what that work is? I’m increasingly demoralized by what people do to each other, what today’s society is warping in to… It’s very encouraging to know I’m in such good company, thank you!
In “Beneath the Planet of the Apes,” James Franciscus asks his captor, “When may we hope to be released?” The response of, “You may hope any time you wish” was clearly meant to communicate that release wasn’t going to happen. Hoping, or, “confidence,” in ANYTHING besides God, is completely empty and unfounded.
Maybe starting your day with your favorite beverage in this cup will help keep your fears, doubts and anxiety in perspective.
Oh I love this cup! Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
Thank you – it helps me and I’m pleased to share it with others.
Love the cup. But I don’t drink coffee. (Caffeine can aggrovate kidneys stones.) Been there, done that twice. Once was too much. When asked “What is your pain between one and ten?” I said “Can I say 13?” Reset my pain scale.
Fortunately I don’t think coffee is the limiting factor😀
Certainly not if you are Steve Green! 😉
Hot cocoa, especially with hazelnut, would be about the only hot drink I would put in a cup. That is a very special treat that I do rarely.
I’m sure Moses could have chosen to use the burning bush to make and keep his morning coffee warm.
Some people wait. Others are sent.
“Misery is wasted on the miserable” – Dr Bigelow
Thank the good Lord that you have Natasha…I’m 25 and a girl and I living alone while watching the country tear itself into pieces. Nightmarish
Carli, you give me hope! Seeing young people who get it is encouraging. Sometimes I think that only old fogies like me are a dying breed; the last of the Americans. Keep the faith.
Start a beautiful family. When the nightmare ends, someone has to gather the pieces and rebuild. There’s hope in that.
Just remember that Bill wandered through life for a long time before finding Natasha. I was older than you are now when I met my wife. We had both just gotten out of miserable relationships and neither of us was “looking” for anyone. Just make sure that you are open to someone. It will happen. Believing that is also an act of Faith.
As far as the country tearing itself apart: as bad as this is, the 60s and 70s were worse. And everyone watched the same three news programs for their daily fix.
I hope you are involved in some activity that gives you Joy. If not, please find one; through Church or something else. But know that there is a community here that supports each other.
Yes. Then we must strive, every day, no matter how difficult it seems, to not be miserable. Hang in there. You can do this