Twenty-two thousand miles in space above me, in a geosynchronous orbit is a satellite. Combined with the dish on the roof of my garage, I now have access to the internet again.  The satellite’s 24 hour period of rotation matches the earth’s, so the satellite always remains in the same spot over the earth (mine is above North America).

I can check my email, shop, catch up on friends and family, watch a video on appliance repair, or publish a new blog post.

I can accomplish all this because the satellite is always there.

It is always sending and receiving signals

on clear mornings,

as well as partly cloudy days,

on foggy mornings,

when the sun is shining,

and even when it’s not.

I sit at my computer and type, having faith that the words I enter will always reach a satellite that I can’t see, much less understand.  I believe it is there because people (whom I will probably never meet) designed it, built it, and launched it on a rocket into space. It’s too complicated, too advanced for me to understand completely.

It is, after all, rocket science.

I also have faith that God exists and communicates with us, and we with Him, even though He is unseen (except in the incarnate form of Jesus).

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.  Hebrews 11:1   MSG

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.   Hebrews 11:1   NIV

I believe the satellite exists because I see the results:  news stories, new account balances, follow-up emails, invoices for packages that arrive in a few days.

I also have faith in the Lord, who is an unseen Spirit.  I have faith in what I cannot see, because I see the results of the Spirit’s working in my life and in the life of others.

“You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.”  

John 3:7,8 MSG

Neighbors with a similar dish have warned us that heavy snow covering the dish will interfere with the signal.  During such a snowstorm, the satellite is still there, still functioning, but the problem is on the receiving end.  A quick brush with a soft broom should enable reception to return.

There’s often a problem on my part, when it comes to connecting with God, too.  I am like the man who wanted healing for his sick son, but found his faith wanting.  He pleaded with Jesus.

‘Oh, have mercy on us and do something if you can.’

‘If I can?” Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if you have faith.’

The father instantly replied, ‘I do have faith; oh, help me to have more!’   Mark 9:22-24

Jesus did have mercy on the man and his son and healed him.

Faith–it’s rocket science.  I don’t have to understand or see everything to believe it.

My prayer for us all:

May our faith increase!

“Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”   Matthew 17:20  MSG

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satellite and rocket photo from exede.com, night sky photo by freedigitalphotos.net

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Linking with Jennifer Dukes Lee, Lyli Dunbar, Laura Boggess, Tracy Teppler