Humility and Faith (Saturday, Week 12, Year II)

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Sometimes, we may be tempted to give up on God just because we seem not to have received what we ask for in prayers. Sometimes, we are quick to come to a very funny conclusion that God does not care about what we go through. It's been whispered at certain quarters that many people have given up on God because of the ravaging effects of the pandemic. They believed that God should have swept the virus away, but nothing seems to have been done. So, why should they continue to believe in Him and take Him seriously? This is one amongst the different forms of crisis of faith.

First, we must assimilate the painful truth that God doesn't owe us anything. We have not been hired by God as labourers are hired, and so we must not expect some pay or reward from Him for our good works.

If the above is properly understood, our approach to God then should basically be an approach of humility. And what is humility? Recognising and admitting that we are sinners, that we are nothing, and that we don't even deserve to have God under our roof just as the centurion expressed (cf. Matt. 8:5-17).

Maybe, the people of Israel, about whom the author of the Book of Lamentations wrote, should have protested for the misfortune that befell them; they should have complained bitterly to God for not caring for His chosen ones who were shattered, battered and drowned in the sea of afflictions. But they did not. What did they do instead? They still had a very strong belief that God was still with them despite the tragedies of affliction and misery which they faced. And that's why the prophet urged them in these words: "Cry aloud to the Lord! O daughter of Zion" (Lam. 2:18).

No matter what we go through, no matter what we think or believe about God, no matter the state or situation in which we have found ourselves, this one fact should never be forgotten: that "WE MATTER TO GOD".


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