A Doctor's Vow by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Two weeks later Kent sat in church wishing he’d skipped this Sunday service. It felt wrong to be here when the faith he’d once held so dear now filled him with questions. But he could hardly walk out just as the minister walked to the pulpit.

“What are you blaming God for?” he asked the congregation. “Is it a lack of money? A lousy boss? The loss of someone you loved? Do you think you’re alone, that you’ve been abandoned? Do you feel like God is mad at you? What’s your beef with God, folks?”

The pregnant pause had the entire church riveted, including Kent.

“You need help, but where is God? Where does He go when you need Him most? More importantly, why doesn’t He help when you call? It’s an age-old question. And the answer is—” Pastor Tom paused, waited then smiled. “I don’t know.”

Soft laughter filled the sanctuary.

“It’s the truth, people. I don’t know why it’s that way. I don’t know why it sometimes feels as if God abandons us. I can’t explain why certain times in our lives we are unable to hear His voice or feel His presence.” Again his smile flashed. “I do know we humans sometimes feel disappointed in His response. We think we have to work harder to get His attention, to be worthy of His time. And if God still doesn’t respond, we feel abandoned, alone, as if we’ve sinned, done something so wrong He’s finally given up on us.”

Kent squirmed. This sermon hit a little too close to home.

“David the psalmist, God’s chosen king and beloved child, had the same questions we do. Read his psalms and you’ll see how often David asked God where He is, why He doesn’t help. If David had doubts, why wouldn’t we?” The pastor shook his head. “We have to stop beating ourselves up when doubts assail us. We need to remember who God said He is and the promises He’s made. We have to stop allowing doubts and fears to overwhelm us. When problems hit us, when it seems we’re at rock bottom, this is the very time we need to hold strong in our faith.”

Uncomfortable with the message, Kent glanced around. He noticed Jaclyn seated two rows over in front of him. She wore a white lace sundress that showed off her narrow shoulders. On her left side, three young girls hunched forward, intent on the minister’s words. Jaclyn also seemed riveted until she turned her head, as if she’d felt his stare on her. Her eyes met his and held as if some invisible electric current bound them together. After a moment she gave him a funny half smile, then turned her attention back to the preacher. Kent did the same.

“We all have dark moments when the questions seem to overwhelm. But in David’s blackest hour, he knew enough about God to know His truth. Listen to Psalm 139, verse seven.” He turned a page in his Bible and began to read.

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