Nurturing Courageous Love

     One of the greatest enemies of courageous love is doubt. To see this, consider John the Baptist’s story. The Scriptures indicate John’s message was firmly based on Isaiah 40:3-4, his baptism on repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:2-5). Confidently exclaiming, “Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29), John demonstrated a passionate conviction concerning Jesus’ identity.

     Consequently, this steered him to confront the moral corruptions of King Herod. causing his imprisonment.  Understanding prisons of that time, John most likely found himself experiencing periods of overwhelming isolation and boredom. While in that forlorn dungeon, the incessant biting of dark uncertainty nibbled at John’s steely mind. In time, a question, born in the womb of agonizing despair and aching sorrow, forced the words out of his mouth, “Are you, Jesus, the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matt. 11:2-3; Luke 7:18-20).

     In peaceful times of green pastures, our faith may feel thick and rock-solid. Seasons of change, however, can bring devastating realizations. God often allows profound suffering because it is the terrain where growing faith finds enough room for contemplative reflection. It is where doubt, rooted in our sinful nature, is met by faith, rooted in Christ himself.

“Those who believe they believe in God but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God himself.”

- Madeleine L’Engle