I believe; help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24)

On Pentecost Sunday, May 24, another class of young people will stand before the congregation and publicly confirm their identity and mission as baptized children of God. We applaud their endurance of two years of instruction in the Christian faith and life. We commend the parents and mentors who have encouraged them in the program. We give thanks to God for the ministry of Pastors Becky Resch and Kristin Wendland on behalf of these confirmands.

Yet, I worry about how well these confirmands will continue in their lives of discipleship. I wonder whether the gift of faith will continue to be rekindled in them as they move forward in their lives. I make a conjecture about what percentage of this class will continue in a committed life of faith at age 30.

In my prayer and musings, I came across this excerpt from a confirmation sermon preached by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Kieckow (formerly in East Prussia) on April 9, 1938. His words give me encouragement in my own faith journey and prayerful hope for all our young people who struggle to have faith:

We receive from God only as much faith as we need for the present day. Faith is the daily bread that God gives us. You know the story about manna. This is what the children of Israel received daily in the desert. But when they store it for the next day, it was rotten. This is how it is with all the gifts of God. This is how it is with faith as well. Either we receive it daily anew or it rots. One day is just long enough to preserve the faith. Every morning it is a new struggle to fight through all unbelief, faintheartedness, lack of clarity and confusion, anxiety and uncertainty, in order to arrive at faith and to wrest it from God. Every morning in your life the same prayer will be necessary: I believe, dear Lord, help my unbelief.

Let us pray . . . Lord, help me to believe your gospel today. Give me enough faith for today. I believe; help my unbelief! Amen.

Contributed by Pastor Dan
Monday May 11, 2015
Liturgical Year B: Week 24
Liturgical Color: White
Sunday Gospel reading: Easter6
Sixth Sunday in Easter Sunday