Was She Afraid to Die?
After almost being martyred in Sudan for refusing to renounce her faith in Jesus Christ , Meriam Ibrahim, 27, and her family are grateful to God. “Faith means life. If you don’t have faith, you are not alive,” said Meriam Ibrahim when asked if she was afraid of dying for her faith.
“If you don’t have faith, you are not alive.”
Ibrahim’s healthy faith gave her the ability to overcome the worst of circumstances. “Faith means life. If you don’t have faith, you are not alive,” said Meriam Ibrahim when asked if she was afraid of dying for her faith.
Her sentence was eventually appealed and overturned, and she was allowed to leave Sudan alive with her family due in part to public pressure that prompted the U.S. State Department to take action. Ibrahim was subsequently released to Italian officials in July before entering the U.S.
Healthy or Sick Faith?
Even in the midst of troubles and heartaches, our faith should equip us to handle difficult situations with confidence and a sense of inner peace. If it doesn’t, it’s not healthy, and we need a new kind of faith.
The great physician wants to heal your faith
When you’re faced with crises, hate, anger and painful circumstances, is your faith helpful, encouraging, strengthening, purposeful, and rewarding? Or does your faith need healing? The great physician wants you to heal your faith and he is able and willing. But he won’t force you to be healed and healthy. He respects our free-will. But he will partner with you and bring healing and health when you are ready.
Your faith’s health – Your body’s health?
In my years of counseling, sadly, I met too many people whose faith was not healthy but they seemed to not be concerned in the least. Often they were highly concerned about the health of their bodies. Paul, the most famous missionary in the Bible, summarized God’s primary purpose for his young minister friend, Titus, “Above all else, help people find a healthy faith.” That should also be our primary concern. How important is the health of your faith?
Some faith is so sick that it disappoints lives, breaks hearts, distorts values, and ruins relationships, and warps minds. How much of your time, heart and mind will you give today and this week to developing a healthy faith? Bill