A Glimpse of Starlight

The question asked in order
To save her life or take it
The answer “No” to avoid death
The answer “Yes” would make it
Make it

“Do you believe in God?”
Written on the bullet
Say “Yes” to pull the trigger
“Do you believe in God?”
Written on the bullet
And Cassie pulled the trigger

(from Flyleaf’s “Cassie”)

Whenever I hear that song, I cringe.  The question immediately worms its way into my mind: What would I do?  If I was just getting shot, I might be able to say yes.  I mean, it’s over relatively quickly (unless the shooter has horrible aim).   But what if it was getting burned at the stake or attacked by lions, like the early Christians endured?  What if it was starvation or drowning or suffocation?  What if it was some drawn out, horrifiically painful ordeal?

I’d say no.  No, I don’t believe in God.

The idea turns my stomach — how could I live with msyelf if I did that, after all Jesus suffered for me? — but the thought of that physical agony paralyzes me.  There’s no way I could choose to endure it.

I would reach that crucial moment of decision, and I would fail.

Or would I?

Here’s what I believe: If I, in this exact moment as I sit here writing this, was faced with a situation like the song mentions, I would crumble.  But you see, I’m not, and so God hasn’t given me the strength to face such a thing.  If I ever did face that situation, I would be able to stand my ground, because God would give me the grace I would need in that moment.

God gives us just the right amount of strength for our current temptations — no more, no less. 

When you are faced with a hard trial, he will give you great grace.  When the temptation lessens, you won’t need as much strength, so he won’t give it to you.  It’s not that you will be lacking strength — you will have just what you need.

So just because I think about getting skinned alive for God right now and decide I couldn’t do it doesn’t mean I’d be a coward when that day comes (if it ever does).  I believe that God will never forsake me, and that he will give me the courage for whatever he puts in my path.

I cling to this:

“And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way so you can endure it.”  (1 Corinthians 10:13b)

“But he [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Do you agree?  What do you think you’d do in the moment of decision?