Prayer for those who find it difficult to believe
Kyle Norman
Bible Reading:
“He can help those who are being seduced, because he himself suffered when he was seduced.” Hebrews 2:18
Read or listen to the following:
As I was preparing to publish my book, I worked with editors who specialize in spiritual and religious publications. I sent him the manuscript. He worked it for about three months. Returning it to me, the document was full of his editing suggestions. I was able to accept them or reject them as I felt appropriate. His initial proposal was related to the title. My title was “Living, Beloved, Freedom: Find Jesus when Faith is Hard.” He suggested that it be changed to “find Jesus when faith appears difficult.”
At first glance, you may think – what is the problem here? This is the problem. To say that faith appears difficult is an unconscious message that faith must be pure and free of struggle. Faith only appears difficult when sin and failure bears us. It’ll get in the way. Truly loyal people don’t struggle in the spiritual way of their lives. Faith is not really difficult for a holy, righteous, spiritual person. Plus, I say… false. It’s not only untrue, it’s not the Bible either.
The Hebrew books say that Jesus assumes the suffering of mankind. Incarnation is the center of our faith. The Hebrew books assert that Jesus was made in every respect like us. It means that Jesus knows, understands and understands everything we experience, all the good and evil in life. Jesus knows what it’s like to be frustrated and irritated. He understands what it’s like to complain about cold weather. He is well versed in anger, worry and anxiety. But he also knows that being seduced against God feels inwardly. Jesus knows it will weep in the shadows. He knows what it’s like to scream and ask, “My God, why did you abandon me?” He is well versed in the places of suffering and death. The incarnation of Jesus means that you can meet Jesus there.
If we deny that faith is difficult, we ultimately deny incarnation because we say there is a part of our lives that Jesus did not take on. And if we deny incarnation, we deny the availability of Jesus’ power in our lives. Incarnation had a purpose, as Jesus wasn’t just walking in the sands of Israel. Jesus can bring God’s power to our humans.
This allows us to enter the frail and sometimes messy tapestry of our lives, with the confidence that the power of Christ can be met there. Incarnations affect current life. The Hebrews say, “Because he himself suffered when he was seduced, he can help those who are seduced” (Hebrews 2:18). He embraced the fulfillment of human life, so we can find his presence in what we face. Jesus dismantles the greatest threat to our lives with God. No matter what the devil says to emphasize our sins and mistakes, Jesus gets the final word. Jesus establishes that by destroying the power of the devil, he is the man who will make us speak out of our eternal life. He comes to say that he exists for us in moments of suffering and hardship.
Take a moment to think about where you are in your life now. What are you facing? Where can Jesus meet you there? If we believe that our faith exists only when there is no problem, we will ultimately believe that everything we face will exclude us from Christ’s existence and power. But if we embrace our incarnation and try to accept everything it declares to us, we may find ourselves surrounded by God’s loving being.
Let’s pray:
Graceful Lord, I am in Jesus, you have humbled to step into my world and into my humanity. For the incarnation of Christ, I am grateful for my confidence in your presence today. As your words testify, I can approach your throne with confidence and boldness, as I know you will sympathize with my weaknesses and hear my cry. Lord, you know me more deeply than I know myself. You are familiar with the struggles and seduction I face. I ask you to come to those places. Lord, come to peace and grace. help me. Tell us about the peace the world cannot afford. Give me grace. And I hope you help me see me standing with me in what I am facing.
Lord, it may be difficult to endure my time of seduction and suffering. In my suffering, I can be seduced to believe that you do not care about me, do not live with me, or rejected me. Help us stay rooted in your being. Make sure your love for me existed at the time. Know that the most incredible display of your love is not to remove my difficulties, but to your decision to enter the place with me, and to walk this path beside me. I pray these things to Jesus, my hopes, my strength, and my life. Amen.
Photo Credit: Pexels/Umberto Shaw
Pastor Kyle Norman is the president of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Kamloops, Canada. He holds a PhD in Spiritual Formation and is a popular author, speaker and retreat leader. His writings can be found at Christianity.com, Crosswalk.com, Ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada and more. He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca. He has 20 years of idyllic experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual disappointment.
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