Sabbatical 4 - The Journey of Trust

Andy Raatz, October 31, 2021

John 4:46-53

The Setting: An IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION without a possible solution.

The Request: An impossible situation needs help from the only possible source—JESUS.
The Answer: Man’s view of the impossible is not the same as God’s understanding of
impossible.

● We can come to Jesus anytime.

● The first level of trust is the willingness to ask for help…for strength…for God to
work.

“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always
looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are
looking down you cannot see something that is above you.”
- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

● Trust is a process; faith is a journey.

"Faith is so rare--and religion so common--because no one wants to live
between first base and second base. Faith is the in-between space where
you're not sure you'll make it to second base. You've let go of one thing and
haven't yet latched into another. Most of us choose the security of first
base."
- Richard Rohr

● The faith journey with Jesus will be dotted with miracles.

● Belief and Faith are built layer by layer, a deepening journey of trust.

"It need not discourage us if we are full of doubts. Healthy questions keep
faith dynamic. In fact, unless we start with doubts we cannot have a deep-
rooted faith. One who believes lightly and unthinkingly has not much of a
belief. One who has a faith which is not to be shaken has won it through blood
and tears--has worked his or her way from doubt to truth as one who reaches
a clearing through a thicket of brambles and thorns."
- Helen Keller