Friends,
I heard a perfect description of doubt recently. Last week during the “Time with Young Disciples,” Serenitye asked the children, “what is doubt?” An astute young theologian responded by saying, “doubt is when you’re not sure if something is going to happen.”
In his book “Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC,” Christian writer Frederick Buchner describes faith like this:
“Faith is better understood as a verb than as a noun, as a process than as a possession. It is on-again-off-again rather than once-and-for-all. Faith is not being sure where you’re going but going anyway. A journey without maps.”
This Sunday, we will take a look at how doubt (when you’re not sure something will happen) and faith intersect with one another as we continue our sermon series “Wrestling with God: Finding Faith.” We’ll read from this passage that describes the matriarch Sarah’s response to some wild news she receives.
Buechner continues in his book writing about the faith of Abraham and Sarah, saying:
“Why did the two old crocks laugh? They laughed because they knew only a fool would believe that a woman with one foot in the grave was soon going to have her other foot in the maternity ward. They laughed because God expected them to believe it anyway. They laughed because God seemed to believe it. They laughed because they half-believed it themselves. They laughed because laughing felt better than crying. They laughed because if by some crazy chance it just happened to come true, they would really have something to laugh about, and in the meanwhile, it helped keep them going.”
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, I will be preaching in the 9:30, 11:00 Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall services, and Molly Smerko will preach at 8:45 in the chapel.
