Faith-Filled Perseverance

[bluidkiti]

Faith-Filled Perseverance
This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.” —Psalm 22:1-2

Although Mother Teresa died in 1997, she is still making news. A Catholic nun, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity and in 1979 won the Nobel Peace Prize for her incredible humanitarian work in Calcutta, India.

At her acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, she spoke strongly and boldly claiming that “It is not enough for us to say, ‘I love God, but do not love my neighbor…’” She lived a life that reflected what she said by dedicating her life to serving the poorest of the poor. She spent the majority of her life living the message Jesus had given in a way few of us attempt. She truly loved her neighbor as herself.

In an article written about her in the September 3, 2007 issue of Time magazine, a different Mother Teresa is revealed. The article spans eight pages and focuses not on her unfaltering faith, but on a soul that felt perhaps as David did when he wrote the 22nd Psalm. Mother Teresa was a woman who felt forsaken. For years, she felt plagued by doubt and confusion and feelings that God had abandoned her.

There are times in my life when I wonder if God is listening, when it feels like I am left alone. What an amazing example we are given in today’s Scripture that reminds us that our faith is more than a feeling. Even Jesus in His last moments of life, as He hung on the cross, quoted from Psalm 22 and expressed the same feeling that He had been abandoned by God. There are times in our lives, whether we are suffering great trial or feelings of separation, where it is easy to begin to wonder, is God there? Does He hear? Does He care? The answer is yes, He is there. Our faith is more than a feeling.

When doubt strikes, when feelings of abandonment surface, when trials come, do not be wavered by the lie that God is no longer with you. Recognize the truth that God is never changing. We can look throughout history and see how God answered the cries of His people yesterday. We can look around today and know that God is answering the prayers of and working in the lives of people today. And we can know that our unchanging God who was with us yesterday and is with us today, will be with us tomorrow, whether we feel it or not.