Benjamin Pratt, in his book,
"Short Stuff From a Tall Guy," speaks of an ancient Greek word that
characterizes a weariness of faith that some struggle to overcome. He defines
the word, "accidie," as follows: "In its fullest meaning, accidie
refers to the loss of joy or faith in the goodness of life or the goodness of
God." The circumstances of life, the pressures of our schedules, the
demands others place upon us, the cruel and violent nature of the world around
us are just a few of the burdens we carry that weigh at times so heavily upon
us. The questions of where, when, and how God works in the midst of these
challenges are perhaps only eclipsed by the greater question, 'Why?".
Faith is of little value if questions are not allowed. Early in my
ministry I was scolded by a woman who, in the aftermath of a study on the book
of Revelation, told me that one should never question God. "To do so," she
said, "was a sin." I have thought about her warning several times over the
years and come to believe that God is not threatened by the questions that arise
in the living of this life. There are times when joy is lost and faith seems
uncertain.
Our Day/Night Bible Study is currently focusing on the Old Testament book
of Job where a good and righteous man, by biblical standards, suffers
devastating losses that include the death of his children, destruction of
property, and the diminishment of his own physical health. Initially he refuses
to question, but over time the weight of his grief becomes overwhelming. His
encounters with God take on a different tone and he ultimately must decide
whether he will trust God, even in the midst of what he does not
understand.
Quite honestly, we like less messy stories, particularly when the
mess comes too close to home. Though it seems tempting to live a life free from
such burden. the growth of our faith is often dependent on these messy
circumstances. This is not to say that God initiates the burdens and hardships
we encounter, but in these deep valleys we learn a great deal about ourselves
and about God. The apostle Paul is right to encourage Christians to believe
that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ (Romans 8). That
assurance of unwavering love is foundational when facing the challenges before
us...even when things get messy...even when we aren't sure how God is
at work...even when we are threatened by the dis-ease of accidie.
Pratt contrasts the complacency and weariness of accidie with the
power of the Creator to recreate a new spirit and hope. Citing the 51st Psalm,
he writes, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
within me. I'm yearning for the light of a new day. I long for the old courage,
the old calling. Now, I'm taking this step in prayer; I'm calling out humbly for
just a taste of purpose and passion--a ray of light in these dark times. Fill
me, O Lord, with the hope of joy--the joy of hope."
Amen!
Jim Abernathy
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