Belief, Faith And trust

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Posted by Priscilla Carr, October 2, 2024

Have you ever experienced Niagara Falls? I had heard a lot about the Falls, but several years ago, I flew to Buffalo, NY, to experience it for myself. What I remember most, what took my breath away, were the deafening roar of the Falls and feeling the power of the Falls as seemingly tons of water crashed from the peaks to the rocks below. I couldn’t be at the Falls and not take the famed Maid of the Mist boat ride; I earned my commemorative blue plastic Maid of the Mist raincoat as we were sprayed with the mist of the Great Falls. As the boat approached the Falls, the mist heartily greeted us along with the roar.  Niagara Falls is majestic; it was a wonderful experience. 

Do you know the story of Charles Blondin’s tightrope walks across Niagara Falls? In July 1859, Charles Blondin stretched a tightrope between the Canadian side of the Falls and the American side of the Falls and walked across it. He actually walked back and forth several times!  It is reported that the tightrope was stretched the quarter mile between the Canadian and American Falls at 160 feet above the bottom of the Falls. He, of course, had a huge audience, and it’s said that he even crossed Niagara Falls on a bicycle, on stilts while pushing a wheelbarrow. Can you imagine? Blondin was greeted with huge applause and cheers from the onlookers who encouraged him on each increasingly challenging trip.  He’d ask the crowd, “Do you believe I can cross the Falls on a bicycle?”  “Walking backward?” “On stilts?” The enthusiastic crowd always excitedly shouted their belief that he could complete the task.  Then he asked, “Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?” The crowd ecstatically shouted their belief that he could do it. But when he asked, “Who will get in the wheelbarrow?” there was silence and no volunteers.

As I write from Georgia, we are over the worst of Hurricane Helene’s landfall. There is still a hearty breeze, but now the sun is out, and the temperature and humidity are lower. Before Helene’s landfall in neighboring Florida, news reporters informed us of the potential damage she could cause in west central Georgia. Most of us had faith in the weather forecasters’ predictions and responded accordingly. We stocked up on non-perishables and stayed at home to avoid the ravages of flash flooding and potentially damaging wind. But I watched an interview this morning with a young woman who had to be rescued because she heard the warnings and believed them but didn’t have faith in them. After being rescued from her car, she advised those considering going out while the warnings were in effect to “stay home.” She now had faith in the weather forecasters.

In the Bible, James wrote, “You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder” (James 2:19). From this verse, I learn that the demons believe in God. But, since they are described as demons and not former demons, belief and faith are not the same; they believe in God but do not have faith in Him. By definition, believe can mean, “hold (something) as an opinion; think or suppose.” And faith is defined as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” Charles Blondin’s audience really believed he could traverse the tightrope pushing a wheelbarrow. They had seen him perform the feat several times. But the exercise of their belief did not result in a faith that he could actually push one of them in a wheelbarrow safely across the Falls—no one volunteered to put their complete trust or confidence in him.

Thirty-four years ago, I put my complete trust and confidence in Jesus to save and recreate me. In that act of faith, I instantly went from death to life; I experienced the miracle of rebirth. But 34 years later, when I struggle to get into the wheelbarrow by sharing my faith or in believing God has a purpose in my pain and the pain and sickness of my friends and loved ones, what should I do? Sometimes I’m like the father who said to Jesus, “I believe. Help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). I’m learning that maybe that’s a key part of what I do; talk to Jesus about it. Don’t sugarcoat it. Don’t pretend. Tell Him what He already knows but is waiting for me to admit.

He wants me to trust Him with my deepest concerns, with the depths of my feelings. 

And I watch Him. I watch what He did in His Word and presently in the lives of His children. I remember that what we have is a relationship and that deep relationship takes time. And I accept the grace that He offers to me when I ask Him to “help my unbelief”. I also remind myself that He’s not asking me to push the wheelbarrow! He is pushing the wheelbarrow. He just asks me to have faith in His ability to get me safely to the other side. He can be trusted. He’s done it countless times.

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.

Just to take Him at His word.

Just to rest upon His promise

Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord”

I’m so glad I learned to trust Him

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend

And I know that He is with me

Will be with me to the end

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus

Oh, for grace to trust him more

(Louisa M.R. Stead, 1882)

Charles Blondin’s story adapted from 

Creative Bible Study, An Acrobat, 

A Wheelbarrow, and a Challenge of Faith

(date unknown)

Priscilla Carr was born in NYC, but has lived in metro Atlanta since 1979. She is a Navy veteran trained in electronics which God used for a 30-year career at the FAA. She uses her training to provide audio support to Touching Hearts Ministries, and is the Editor and Producer of “A Burst of Hope” podcast. She began her adult new life in Jesus in 1990 right before leaving the Navy, and today she exudes her love for Jesus. She is the proud mama to two rambunctious fur kids, Gracie (Lab) and Faith (Pit-mix). Priscilla was encouraged by elementary teachers to write. She took creative writing courses in High School and college, but in the mid-eighties, she stopped writing. The desire to write has been recently reawakened, and she is thriving in her new writing adventure.