In a recent daily devotion through the Lectio 365 online resource (I’ve forgotten which day), the presenter noted that faith and certainty are not the same thing. I think I know that, but it had been a while since I heard it stated that bluntly. When we are certain that a particular outcome of some situation will take place in the way that we want it to happen – because we’ve prayed or enlisted others to pray or claimed the right scripture or whatever – that’s not the same as faith.
Certainty is about our agenda. We may spin it to claim it as God’s agenda, but it’s really about the satisfaction that our script or blueprint will be followed. Ultimately, certainty is about our control, and we’re merely using God as a guarantor.
Faith is a relinquishment of our expectations and our illusion of control. Faith centers not on what we want, but on God’s identity and heart’s desire. Now, I’m pushing back on myself at this moment just as you may be. What about the certainty of the parting of a sea, the falling of fortress city walls, the defeat of a giant soldier champion, the survival of a white-hot furnace, etc.? We have to realize that all people of faith view biblical outcomes after the fact. We are at the realized result looking backward. We must remember that there was a “before it happened” in each case. Beforehand, there was no certainty that the walls would fall, that a sling would fell the giant, or that there would be a fourth, protective presence in the furnace. What existed was faith in a God for whom nothing was impossible. That’s it. It was about God, not about guaranteed outcomes.
One of the greatest statements of faith over certainty came from Job. He had no guarantee of any kind of explanation for his sufferings, much less guarantee of any kinds of restoration. Still, mustering what little reserve he has left, he said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…” (Job 13:15.) That’s faith.
Isn’t it likely that uncertainty was brazenly real for the human Jesus the night before his execution? Did he sweat drops of blood just because of the suffering and abandonment that was ahead? (That was certainly enough!) Or was it also the real terror of uncertainty? Did part of Jesus wonder, “What if this doesn’t work?” Ultimately, his “Not my will, but yours” was little different than Job’s bold statement. It was ultimate faith.
Just my thoughts…what do you think? I”ll see you around the next bend in the river.
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