The Elasticity of Faith
Read this recently…
“I believe that each of us has a rubber band with one end attached to our backside and the other nailed firmly to the wall of tradition. Even when we want to change, and do change, we tend to relax and the rubber band snaps back into our comfort zones.”
Think about it in terms of losing weight. Once you shed a few pounds you think you can relax - maybe even celebrate by eating pizza and ice cream. Before you know it, the rubber band has snapped you right back where you began.
The same thing happens with our faith.
Maybe your a new Christian and once the excitement wears off you snap right back to your comfort zone. Changing your life is too difficult.
Or maybe you read a great book or heard a speaker who motivates you to change. You start off with great intentions, but before you know it - SNAP, and you are right back where you were.
Here is the challenge. We need to be so open to changing our lives that the elasticity of the rubber band is stretched too far to return its power to pull us back to our comfort zone.
May 14, 2008 at 11:25 am
I don;t know if it is the best or right way but I keep my band stretched by makeing sure I fill my weeks with exciting things that keep my faith stretched. If I just went to church on sunday I would definitely snap back
May 14, 2008 at 11:33 am
Roger - That’s a great analogy. If your a “Sunday-only” Christian, you’re rubber band will easily snap back into place- normally by Monday morning.
May 14, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I agree with Roger. A truly stretched faith means it is our life 24×7.
If you stretch a rubber band far enough, it breaks. If you think of our faith walk like breaking a horse then loosing the elasticity of our faith could be a great thing.