Expert: Rev. Stuart Woodward - 8/29/2007

Question
My question is what do you tell someone who was raised under the idea that she has to be willing enough for God to save her. She is the daughter of a preacher, and has struggled that her asking God to save her experience wasn't enough at 10. She was taught to be scared of hell so she asked God to save her. Now at 24 suffering from ocd, she can't shake this fear that she isn't believing enough in God, or didn't at 10. Now when she tried to pray again she feels that she is going against the faith by asking again. She is suffering more and more and is only scared and hopes that her lack of faith won't send her to hell. She believes that Christ is her only chance, but feels like he wont let her find the rest in assurance. What can I show her to bring some measure of relief. I tried the promises, but she feels like God is telling her the problem is her, not him. Thank you for your assistance.

Answer
Hello William,
Thank you for your question. Sadly there are many people who struggle in the whole area of assurance. You are right to remind the lady of the promises of God and to try to help her understand that faith isn't a work that earns salvation but the simple act of trusting the Lord and throwing herself on His mercy.
From what you have written I realise that you are well able to remind the lady concerned of God's promises but I can offer you one thought that helped me hugely as a young man.
I minister in England and before entering ministry was school teacher teaching Religious Education (allowed in England). I had been doing some work with a class of 12 year olds on the story of Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14:22-36. I ran out of material so for five minutes asked questions that occurred to me quite spontaneously. I asked, 'Why didn't Jesus let Peter drown?' I had no idea what answers I expected. One child said,'Because He loved him'. Another said, 'Because He hadn't finished with him yet!' However the response of another child had a profound impact on me. He said, 'If Peter had drowned it would have been Jesus' fault.' I asked him to explain and then he said, 'As I see it Jesus did not tell Peter to get out of the boat as long as he was sure he had enough faith to make it all the way. He just said come. So once Peter was on the water he was Jesus' responsibility'.
The implications are great and the theology exactly right.
One further thing occurs to me. Although we know that assurance is faith based we are told that God's Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. Every day to consciously and deliberately ask to be filled with the Spirit is an important step. In doing so we need to give God time and make ourselves open to Him.
I don't just know that I am saved. I know Jesus by His Spirit and God wants that that should be for all of us.
I hope my comments are of some help and I pray God's blessing on you as you seek to be of help.
Stuart Woodward