The Puzzle Of Faith

Sometimes, it feels as though faith is a puzzle that must be assembled correctly.  There are two especially puzzling things about faith personal to me.  The first is frustration.  I get frustrated that I don’t understand faith.  Oh, how frustrated I get that my puzzle pieces are not assembled correctly, and I don’t have a clear picture of what faith looks like.  This leads directly to the second puzzling thing - guilt.  Sometimes, I either feel guilty I don’t have enough puzzle pieces or just when I think I have it figured out, I am missing the last piece of the puzzle.  

The good news is I have found an example in scripture that shows my thinking is completely backwards.  Faith isn’t a puzzle after all and I’m not missing pieces either. The good news is the simple story about the Angel of the LORD telling Abraham he would have a son within a year, and Sarah overhearing the conversation.  It is a story of laughter, which of course is the meaning of the name Abraham and Sarah give to their son, Isaac, when this promise was fulfilled.  Isaac means laughter.

Laughing Off Faith

Abraham was 98 years old when he was told he would have a son.  This was the second time Abraham heard this prophecy. The first time he doubled-over in laughter.  Sarah was 88 when she overheard the prophetic announcement and she laughed too.

I believe there is a difference between Abraham’s laughter and Sarah’s laughter.  When Sarah laughed she was questioned about it. She was questioned by God about it.  

God asked, “Why did laugh?”

Sarah lied and said, “I didn’t laugh.”

Abraham laughed too, but God never questioned him about his laughter.  I’m making the following observation that is completely my own opinion.  Abraham was laughing out of joy.  He had faith that God would bring about his promise.  God had been faithful to Abraham along every step of his journey from his homeland.  Abraham believed God would continue to be faithful. Sarah, on the other hand, laughed in disbelief.  “Ha!” she said, “I’m having a baby at my age.  Ha, ha! Yeah, right God! You’re going to give me a son, ha, ha, ha!”

Does Our Disbelief Stop God?

If my observation of Abraham is right it showed that he had faith.  It also shows that Sarah did not have faith. Did Sarah’s lack of faith stop God from delivering on his promise?  No! It did not!

David Feddes, a professor at Christian Leaders Institute, says, “Faulty faith doesn’t stop God’s irresistible grace or prevent his promises from coming true. Sarah may have laughed in disbelief, but did that stop God? No, says the Bible. ‘The LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said and the LORD did for Sarah as he had promised.’  That is what happened. God was faithful in his promise to Sarah even though she obviously had a lack of faith.”

This story made me think of my own frustration and guilt over what I thought was a puzzle of faith.  I asked myself, “Does this stop God from fulfilling promises to me?” It does not stop God! Not only does he fulfill his promises to me, he sends mighty blessings my way, and he is working out his plan for my life regardless of my conundrum over the enigma of faith.   As I watch God’s faithfulness and grace, my faith becomes more established and it grows deeper.

Grace Creates Faith

“Don’t think God’s promise is based on our faith.  It’s the other way around. Our faith is based on God’s promise.  Some people have the idea that God looks ahead to see who will have faith and gives grace and life to those who he foresees will have the proper degree of faith.  But that is backward. It is grace that creates faith, not faith that creates grace. “ - David Feddes

Doesn’t that make you feel happy!  Grace creates the faith.  God’s grace in fulfilling promises to us. God’s grace in blessing us.  God’s grace in sending his son to die for us creates faith. As we continue to be faithful and as we continue to walk along with him, our faith takes root.  It becomes established. It grows.

Yes, Sarah laughed in disbelief but God’s faithfulness in fulfilling his promise to her caused her faith to take root.  In fact it took root so deeply that she is mentioned in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11.

Is faith really a puzzle?  

No, it is not.  Just look at God’s faithfulness in  your life. Look at the grace he has given.  Over time, your faith will deepen and grow as well.  This makes me laugh. It makes me laugh with joy. Perhaps, one day I can get over my frustration and guilt.  Perhaps I can just smile and say, “God’s grace is building faith in my life.”

Vestibular Migraine And My Four Non-medicinal Treatments

Vestibular migraine or migrainous vertigo is a type of migraine which may or may not cause a headache.  It causes a number of debilitating symptoms including vertigo, nausea, pressure in the head and ears, balance disorders which include fall risk, ocular aura and other symptoms.  When an episode happens I am completely incapacitated. 

Medications are given as a prophylactic (preventative measure), but once an episode begins medications cannot relieve all the symptoms.  Anti-nausea medications help with the vomiting, if taken in time. Other symptoms must run their course throughout the episode.  As a result, I have found four ways to help with symptoms to get me through an episode.

The Stare.  Along with vertigo comes nystagmus which is involuntary eye movement.  Your tendency when experiencing vertigo is to close your eyes and ride it out, but this actually prolongs the episode.  The best thing to do is keep your eyes open and stare at a fixed object.  This reduces the nystagmus and shortens the vertigo episode.

Other Focused Prayer.  It is very natural and easy to feel sorry for yourself and even angry during an episode. This just increases your stress level prolonging your suffering.  I have found that if I pray for others, it takes my mind off myself and focuses it on the need of others.  My prayer list includes people with much greater issues than my own, as well as people who are dealing with everyday life stressors.  I am not alone in suffering.

Create A Mantra.  A mantra is something that you tell yourself repeatedly and it includes a truism.  I have two different mantras that I repeat.  One is a simple statement, "This too shall pass."  The second mantra is a song written by Ze Frank. It is a song that goes "Hey!  You're OK.  You'll be fine.  Just breathe."    The story of how the song was written is a fascinating story you can read about here (http://www.zefrank.com/chillout/)

Social Network.  A social network is a vital tool.  Network sounds like a large group, but in reality it can be just a handful of friends or family members.  I am ill and I need help.  My network are people with whom I have the freedom to be my authentic self.  With them, I can take off the mask of wellness and reveal how I am truly feeling.  They are there for me at all hours and are just a phone call away when I am feeling in crisis.

Coping with symptoms without medications is essential.  Medications are not magic potions and simply cannot help with all symptoms related to migrainous vertigo.  These four things have become a sustainable, indispensable requirement for my well being.

My book Well contains other methods for coping with chronic illnesses of all types.  It is available on Amazon here.