Why Do I Believe
I don’t believe in God because of the Bible even though it is wonderfully written and true. I don’t believe in Him because of friends and family, the things they have said or done.
I know that there are great thoughts expressed by both and that many people’s lives have been changed by their beliefs – but that is not why I believe.
I am not really fascinated by world events and have no strong fear of hell or longing for heaven. I have to admit as a person I am very here and now. So I do not feel the need to ensure my future by believing in God.
So why do I believe and why should I bother? Perhaps I am the worst example of all because I don’t really bother at all – I just believe in Him and everything else sort of follows on from there.
SO WHY DO I BELIEVE?
The first time I prayed I was in trouble and stuck with no one to help in any direction and full of fear. The fear led to the prayer and I prayed in desperation. It wasn’t so much a polite, well formed prayer as a one sentence deal. You know the kind – “if you help me I’ll be yours”.
He did. I’m not sure I even realised that the problems were solved by Him I was too busy rushing onto my next great adventure. But a pattern emerged, when I am sad or burdened, oppressed or despairing, angry or confused I remember to pray.
Each time the peace comes and the solution. Some solutions just as I had hoped, some more innovative than I could have imagined. Some confuse me until a long time afterwards when, looking back, they finally make sense to me. But they always come.
That’s how I came to accept that there is a God and that He is active. It wasn’t the theology, preaching or teaching. There were no dramatic miracles and I wasn’t brought up to believe. It just works, that’s all. So simple a tale it’s almost boring if it were not for this one thing – it can work for you too.
Do what I did and try Him out, in any way you feel comfortable. Standing, sitting, walking, lying awake at night in bed; in any language with any accent; no matter how small or big, simply or ugly the problem is; just talk it through and wait and see and only then make up your mind on why you can believe.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him!”
Psalm 34:8 in the Bible (NLT)
“ Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Jesus said, “This is how you should pray:
“Father, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
Give us each day the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation.”
Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him,
‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’
And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’
But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened
Luke 11:1-10 (NLT)