859) In my recently released novel, The Bottle House, the chaplain is speaking with an individual (Stefan) who has become angry with God because he didn’t feel that God was trustworthy. The chaplain makes a comment about how it used to be common to take someone at their word, but now, it’s almost foolish to do so. He tells Stefan that because we, as humans, have learned that people are not always trustworthy that maybe we think the same thing about God. The chaplain challenges Stefan to look into God’s word and see for himself if God is trustworthy.

Matthew 8:5-13 tells us of a centurion who asks Jesus to heal his servant from a distance. He knew that if Jesus spoke words of healing, it would happen. Jesus’ word could be trusted.

This is a hard thing for us, to just take God at His word and, when we blow it, God, in His grace and compassion, forgives us.