Don't stop wrestling, asking, seeking and knocking

Those who ask searching questions about themselves, God, and the world they live in often feel that their struggle is either ignored by the Church, and/or it is treated with some suspicion. I want to reassure these questioning journeyers that our questions and struggles are real and important, that we certainly ought not to be discouraged in our faith consequently. Instead, we should welcome these questions and struggles expecting that these will help us get closer to the love of God and Christ, through our searching after what is more real, wonderous and glorious than what we presently possess. 

Indeed, I would say, without hesitation, that if we are to take God and our faith seriously we must ask these questions and engage in these struggles and seeking after, given that wrestling with God's mysteries, and knocking on the door of God's love and peace during this process, is an essential and continual part of how our faith matures and develops. 

As Christ says in Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

And, as God says to Jacob in Genesis 32:28 after they have mysteriously wrestled with each other all night: "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel (which means 'he struggles with God'), because you have wrestled with God and with men and have overcome."

Go to Steve Smith's blog for more posts and other details about his other writings - disconnectedchristians.blogspot.co.uk