“Do you remember, in the stress of your trial, how faith comes? Let me remind you, although you know it. You know we are sanctified through the truth. Sanctification is just the growth of the particular graces of the spirit, of which faith is one. Just here is where Christians make a great mistake. When they want more faith or want to know whether the faith, they have is the right sort of faith, instead of looking at the things to be believed, they turn their eyes inward and scrutinize their faith.”

Whatever we think of the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, many of us will identify with the description he gave of his faith: “I suppose my own faith, you know, it’s like a bit like trying to get Virgin Radio when you’re driving through the Chilterns. It sort of comes and goes. I mean sometimes the signal is strong, and then sometimes I’m afraid it just vanishes. And then it comes back again.”[1]

The Problem

This is true of most of us, even if few will admit it. The main question is, what do we do with this wavering faith, with this poor connection? We can ignore it and let it be. This is a common reaction, especially since we all lead busy lives and live in a world where the word faith is used casually and flippantly. In my experience, this doesn’t help. The signals will just become fainter, causing either discouragement or indifference.

Or we can despair, thinking there is something seriously wrong with us, and that’s obviously not the answer either. Instead, it’s important to recognize that our wavering faith is a common condition in our present earthly state where Christians – as Martin Luther used to say – are simul iustus et peccator (simultaneously righteous and sinful). Like Paul, we can end our cries of frustration or despair (“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Rom. 7:24) with an expression of thanks to the only true Answer (“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Rom. 7:25).

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