Help Thou My Unbelief

This entry was written one month after we moved across the country following God’s call to the best of our discernment on November 9th, 2015.
I’m reading the chronological Bible again this year. Today I was reading the story about when Lazarus died and Jesus traveled there in response.  Both the sisters met him on the road before he got to the house, declaring regret that he hadn’t gotten there before Lazarus died.  Martha made sweeping, bold statements of faith during the encounter stating, “But I know that even now the Father will give you whatever you ask.”  Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day,”. To which Jesus stated, “I am the resurrection and the life!”
Then just a short time later (moments perhaps?) as they stood in front of the grave, Jesus asked for the stone to be taken away.  Martha said, “But, Lord…”  As if the One who had the authority to raise the dead could not take care of a bad odor?!
Don’t I do the same thing?  When I am “on the road” a distance away from the circumstances, I make bold, sweeping statements of faith in Who Jesus is and the scope of His power.  “Yes Lord, I believe that you will heal my husband completely, better than new, as You said You would.  Yes Lord, I see the vision for this new season! It is exciting and out of the box and amazing!  Yes I will run with it with enthusiasm and delight.”
Yet, perhaps moments –or days, or hours, or months later — when I am right in the midst of the circumstances, staring at the tomb, I say hesitantly, “But, Lord…”
What challenges the Bible presents to us — and the Holy Spirit, if we dare to respond– consistently draws us into more belief, more faith, more dependence.  We must –I must– be on my guard against unbelief, for isn’t that at the heart of Martha’s comment and also my questions?  The heart of unbelief was what was stirred up in Eve’s mind when the serpent posed the first temptation, “Did God really say?”
Lord I believe. Help Thou my unbelief.  Have Your way and may Your name be glorified.