There is a fine line between faith and foolishness. I wish I knew where the line is drawn. That’s one of the thoughts that has been rattling around in my head since yesterday. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to settle the rest of them down long enough to express them coherently–or even understand them myself.
Questions. That’s what I have when what I want is answers. How do wisdom and faith find harmony? When is it wisdom to step out with nothing, least of all answers, and when is it wisdom to buy life and flood and fire insurance? Is God giving me the desires of my heart, or are my desires turning me away from the heart of God? All the scriptures I know about faith are pinging around in my brain: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. . .” “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like the wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed.” Forgive me if I’ve misquoted. . . I’m writing this sortof stream-of-consciousness, so I haven’t actually looked these up to verify they are exact quotes. I feel like that wave mentioned in James, driven with the wind, tossed about by the circumstances of life with no control of my own direction. I feel the monotony of rolling, driving toward the shore, and wish I were the boat on the waves with the means to harness the wind and control my direction.
I hesitate to publish this post. I know if I do, I expose myself. I know these thoughts don’t make me seem very sane or very spiritual, and I guess I’m not really either of those things. I also recognize that this is very cryptic, and I do apologize, but I’m not really ready to explain all the details.
Hi Ruth! Thanks for sharing your thoughts in-progress. I know that sometimes being open with others can be scary.
I’ve been wrestling with some of the same thoughts you shared. Will be praying that you God gives you the direction and clarity you need.
Ruth,
Do you think that God is sitting on pins and needles just waiting for his children to jump off into foolishness? “Ha! I got ‘em now!” Is what he says. I have stepped out in faith and in foolishness, but God has always been merciful in both aspects. If God truly is sovereign, he can take the foolishness and turn it into joyous blessing. I am not so foolish (pardon the pun) as to think that our choices do not matter, but even if there are consequences to our foolish choices that we mistake as faith, those consequences will not endure for ever and God is full of mercy in the midst of chastening. Take Moses as an example. We have no idea if his “righting the wrong” of his fellow Israeli was faith or foolishness when he killed the Egyptian (Hebrews simply tells us it was a choice). But through that foolish or faithful choice, God led Moses to shepherding where he would learn the valuable skills needed in shepherding around 3 million “people-sheep.” I wonder if Moses regretted his decision? I believe that God orders the path of the righteous and although we may blunder here and goof up there, we are never beyond the confines of the hands of God, gently (and sometimes painfully) keeping us going the right direction as if his hands were two guardrails on Sylvan Pass. Of course I speak of making tough choices, not living in known sin. Anyways, it is not unspiritual or insane to struggle over right choices, it is simply living.
I am probably not the best person to speak on this subject, but I really think it needs to be an equal balance of our own decisions, and Gods choices for us (which ultimately are the same thing). We can’t sit back and not take chances, afraid to act, wondering if we are doing the right thing, or doing what God wanted of us.. I think we can only try to make educated decisions, do what we feel is best for both – and know that He will be behind us whether we chose right or wrong. Either way, the point is that ultimately it is up to us.. and by it being up to us, it was also Him all along giving us the free will to make our own decisions (whether they were mistakes or right). I don’t know if I explained myself well, or if I just confused you.. I guess I think there is a nice simplicity in not over thinking things and just doing what you personally believe in and being willing to take a leap of faith in your beliefs sometimes. Worst case scenario, you learn from your mistakes, and grow from them.
Ruth, I’ll be praying for you. Life can be confusing & decisions very difficult to make. And understanding & obedience do not always go together. Just last night my pastor preached a message about obeying even when we don’t understand. Obedience is not conditional upon what is easy for me or what I understand. It is simply a matter of choosing to follow my God. I’m not sure if that’s exactly on the wavelength you’re on, but maybe it will encourage you some! Have a great Monday!
Ruth, when these feelings and thoughts are running around in my brain to confuse me, I have to make myself focus on Phil. 4:8, and think about what I know to be true about God. Since different situations can trigger the great debate, different truths about God calm my crazy brain and emotions.
More often than not, I need to sit and wait for clearer leading. (and as you know this is not my natural tendency) I want to know in my time frame, but that is not always possible. Even when there is a seemingly looming deadline, it’s not possible, and I must wait on God. In the waiting, with God’s help, I can truly be still and know that God is God. I can learn more about how amazing He is and how He wants what is best for me and for our family far more than I do. And unlike I, He has the power to accomplish that in us.
The struggle is a good thing, Ruth. As long as you’re still struggling, that is. Don’t give up. Greater is He that is in you. He has promised to lead you, direct your steps, never leave. Praying for you.
One more thing – and I guess it’s the condensed version of the above, and I know you already know this…saying it anyway!!
Remember it’s not the fact that you have faith, but rather the Object of your faith that matters. Instead of focusing on understanding what is faith or foolishness, focus on better understanding the Object of your faith.
Love ya
I appreciate your voicing these questions! They’ve been some of mine these past couple of years. I’m always a bit of agonizing decision-maker, and want to know FOR SURE that I’m right before I make a blunder that messes everything up. I guess I’ve been learning some of God’s mercy in my mistakes and also that God does have my back when I am seeking Him and wanting to do His will. I finally realized that sometimes I have to make the best decision I can and leave the results up to Him–I have to stand up and be decisive (i hate that!). That’s been my “journey” this year, and I have no idea where it’s leading me =) Thanks for sharing.
Jenny, thanks for what you’ve said, too, about rembering what’s true about God. He’s been teaching me to do that, too. Talk about a “learning curve”!
Thanks to all of you for sharing these thoughts etc. I have been wrestling with the same thing in my mind for sometime now. The notion that our acts of foolishness are of no consequence has never sat well with me. Though the notion that God’s mercy is greater than our acts of foolishness is what has made the difference for me. The fact that God looks for ways to bring His children back to Him rather than excuses to push them away and shun them.
I stumbled upon this page purely by virtue of the fact that the phrase “faith and foolishness” has been rattling around in my head all morning and couldn’t silence it. I did a google search on it and this was the first link at the top of the page.
Thanks again.
i had even wanted to ask based on all this responses.pls where does peace come into play? can you say u r acting in faith while making a decision when u have peace within you? please my second question is about waiting on the lord to hear from him. how do one do that?