Keeping the Faith

TODAY: How does the life of Heather Mercer reflect the 16th-century prayer of St. Theresa de Jesus? “Let nothing disturb thee. Let nothing dismay thee. All things pass. God never changes. Patience attains all that it strives for. He who has God finds he lacks nothing. God alone suffices.”

“But I trusted in thee, O Lord; I said, Thou art my God.”

As Christians, we constantly find our faith tested in countless ways — even in the best of times. But when the going gets rough, holding fast to our faith can be even more of a challenge.

In reflecting on today’s scripture passage, I was reminded of the experiences of nine aid workers from Shelter Now International who were imprisoned in Afghanistan for three months last year. Writer Janet Chismar interviewed aid worker Heather Mercer (from Vienna) following her release and wrote about her experiences in an article posted on Crosswalk.com: “Fear was a constant struggle and she admits to being terrified during the interrogations. Mercer also battled doubt and wondered, ‘Why?’ when the situation intensified. She cried out: ‘God, are you really real? Are you who you say you are? Do you really answer prayer?’”

There came the turning point, Mercer told Chismar: “I had the choice to either grow up and find God in the situation . . . or to become bitter. I chose to find God. He built character in us and gave us hope. And I experienced freedom like I never knew before.”

The strength that Heather Mercer spoke of is mirrored in the lyrics of R. Kelso Carter’s uplifting hymn,

“Standing on the Promises”:
“Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.”

How reassuring to be reminded that, no matter how perilous the situation, God will not abandon me.

— Alice Ross