The other morning the kettle would not work. Our water is very hard, so we are used to kettles having a limited life. The immediate assumption was that this was the day for buying a new kettle.
Then it transpired that several other things in the kitchen were not working either because the trip had gone… (wherever trips go to!). Before resetting it, the wise thing was to try to work out why. The dishwasher was the culprit. It had leaked, blown its own little brain and, in the process, caused everything else to fail.
The engineer came and said that the machine is sufficiently elderly that parts are no longer available, so a replacement is required. While that approach may seem reasonable, it would have been counterproductive to replace the kettle without first thoroughly understanding the cause of its failure to boil.
Healthcare professionals are well aware that it is vital to find the root cause of a patient’s symptoms. Not to do so can have devastating consequences; a serious illness may go untreated and become fatal.
Our spiritual health is not dissimilar. For example, people say they are struggling with doubts when what they mean is that they find it inconvenient that following Jesus requires a change in outlook or way of life. We all have problems in our relationship with God; that is the nature of our human state, our sin. Like the appliances in our kitchen, what seems to be wrong at first sight may turn out to be caused by something else entirely.
A physician may need several attempts at a diagnosis because our health is complex; why then do we sometimes fool ourselves that infrequent conversations with God, in which we are guarded and protective of our lifestyle, can produce perfect peace and strong faith?
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, sometimes I am not sure what is wrong with me, and yet I know my life is not quite right. Please help me to understand what needs your physician’s touch and where I must change my ways; then give me the strength of faith and will to take the medicine of change. Amen.