Believing in it – whatever “it” is – gives us courageous motivation in the face of fear. We won’t need a money-back guarantee. Just God’s Word of promise will bring forth our trust in Him.

A couple of Sundays ago in my church, I used an illustration in my sermon about jumping into ice-cold spring water. For those of you not familiar with central Florida, it is laden with springs, some well-known and some remote. Crystal-clear water, always 72 degrees. Compare that with the Gulf or Atlantic, which run around 80, or your swimming pool which is perhaps even warmer. I said that the best way to get used to it is to jump right in. No time wasted, more enjoyment, way cooler. Faith is being brave enough to be first. Congregations, wistfully, are [in]famous for looking around when a call is issued for volunteers! Who will be bold enough to raise their hand first?

It seems to me that most of our problems today are faith-based. In the world and in the church, we instantly handicap ourselves with this deficiency. We sometimes call it “the paralysis of analysis”. It led to a horrific outcome of preventable tragedy in Uvalde, TX. No one acted in faith that, consequences or protocol be damned, they were going to stop the gunman and save the lives of innocent children. With prayer and bold confidence in God’s provision regardless of harm, misunderstanding, or judgment, we could accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). We are all prone to and guilty of cowardice. The lion’s pit and the fiery furnace should not be able to overpower us. Even the cross of crucifixion can repel death, the devil, and empty promises. So let us pray without ceasing for the courage to jump in, to put faith first, and to never doubt that the presence and unconditional love of Jesus can bring us coolness and confidence. 

Pastor Art