Romans 4:20–25 (ESV) —
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
NOTE: I love these verses, especially 20-21, but I think most people mistakenly see stoicism as faith, and I don't see the placid "I trust in God" mantra as evidence of true faith -- it might be, but it also might be an inability to deal with pain. I know because I have been there. When I was younger in the Lord, I was a stoic to bad news and suffering. I could say all the right things because I was very good at suppressing my emotions, and I wanted to look the part of a strong Christian. Also, I wasn't willing to deal with pain. I wasn't willing to have an honest conversation with God. Now, almost 40 years later, I understand that real faith is far different from I thought it was. I've learned that I can be angry and hurt when pain strikes. Like Moses, I can question God, and he still loves me. I've learned that emotion and the mind are both the creation of God.
UPDATE: I'm using faith not as an indicator of salvation, but rather as a measure of spiritual maturity.
PONDER:
- How do I determine if I have faith? Is it a response or is it something internal?
- Do I put on the face of the stoic during suffering -- is that the real me?
PRAYER: Father, the church will always look up to the stoic -- I get it. I would not want people to have to go through the pain and suffering required to get beyond that. The real reason for hard times is to draw us closer to you emotionally, mentally, and willfully in spirit.
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