An eccentric philosophy professor gave a one-question final exam after a semester dealing with a broad array of topics. The class was already seated and ready to go when the professor picked up his chair, plopped it on top of his desk and wrote on the board:
"Using everything we have learned this semester, prove that this chair does not exist." Fingers flew and words flowed. Some students wrote over 30 pages in one hour attempting to refute the existence of the chair. One member of the class, however, was up and finished in less than a minute.
A week later when the grades were posted, the rest of the group wondered how he could have gotten an A when he had barely written anything at all. His answer consisted of two words: "What chair?"
Okay, I admit it, I took the story from the Internet but I couldn't see anything that prohibited my doing so. Besides, I needed someone else's input to illustrate what I wanted to say. It's been a stressful week: first of all a friend died and another, struggling with a terrible disease, is not doing that well.
I, just like you, face unsettling situations because it's just part of living. It's most often the not-knowing that causes the greatest stress, however. Whether it's in our personal, social or business life, the sense of uncertainly can rattle our emotions and even challenge our confidence.
In the midst of all this I headed for my "quiet corner" where I sought solace through prayer and the reading of Scripture. The story that came quickly to mind involved a distraught father seeking healing for his son. When Jesus encouraged his faith, the father replied: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!"
"Yes!" I whispered. Whether I feel faith-filled or shaken by circumstances, He's trustworthy."
