It’s often assumed faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit guarantees the good life. If you do good and do your religious duty, God will bless you with health, wealth, and happiness. If you don’t actively follow the Lord, then the opposite will come to pass. You will be cursed with disease, poverty, and sorrow. In this scenario, prayer becomes like rubbing a genie’s lamp to get your three wishes instead of an intimate conversation with God.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) has taught me faith is not a painless straightforward path, it is a winding and often painful path. Not to sound arrogant, but I have followed God since the day I was born, dedicating everything I am to his service. Yes, I have been greatly blessed, but not because of anything I have done on my part and I’ve been rocked with hardship. I don’t have health, my disease slowly killing me. I don’t have wealth, my parents and social security provide for me financially. I am not always happy; I take antidepressants to combat depression.
The lives of many of the saints prove how difficult faith can be. Saint Paul was beheaded in the city of Rome. Saint Peter was crucified upside down. Saint Thomas was murdered when he preached the Gospel to the people of India. Saint Stephen was stoned to death by a mob of ancient Jewish people. The prophet Isaiah was sawn in half. Jesus, the most faithful of all, was betrayed by one friend and abandoned by the rest, severely beaten, and crucified.
Faith also presents a vast array of existential questions one has to contend with. If I were an atheist, I would know evil could be attributed to the randomness of the universe, but as a Christian, I have to ask why the world is filled with evil when a good God is in control. I also have to ask why won’t God heal me when I have prayed for it since I was a little boy. The questions can become so overwhelming you begin to doubt why you follow God in the first place.
So, is faith even worth it? With all the difficulty it can bring, should one live a life of faith? I’ve counted the cost and know it to be worth it. Life cannot be lived without hope. It’s like food for the soul. Without it, we would starve to death. Faith gives us the hope of eternal life. Jesus promises us if we follow him, we will be resurrected into a new world free from pain and death, a place in the presence of God—the very manifestation of all that is good. A place where we can embrace our lost loved ones once more. This is why the saints endured such brutality. This is why they accepted their deaths with quiet grace and dignity. And this is why I accept the hardship of my disease. The journey of faith may involve great pain, but it ends in triumph.
Thank you Michael, I have had many difficult situations on my life also. Although no where as difficult as yours. I credit my faith also as my saving grace. I believe that on many occasions the Lord has literally carried me through them. God Bless You and keep you in his care always Michael.
Love You!
You are a great communicator, both to yourself and to others. God bless you.
You continue to impact many for the Kingdom Michael!
Your strength of faith and power of your words leads one to reflect on their own faith and commitment to it in difficult seasons. Your unwavering faith is an example to us all. May God continue to strengthen and inspire you to share your journey.
Michael, I know you have dedicated your life to God and I know you have experienced pain and joy all at the same time. Your questions are so fair and you are so right it comes down to hope and faith . I have seen so many miracles in your life and I pray I will see many more. Thank you for being a beautiful witness.