May 26th, 2026

Dear Friends,

“Who made you king? I didn’t vote for ya!” (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)

“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:30-31)

Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 21:23)

For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:2)

Faith and authority have a symbiotic relationship of sorts. It’s a relationship that matters practically. Let me explain. 

If you think about it, you will not trust something for which there is no reliable certainty (subjective as that judgment might be). In the same way, you will not trust someone whom you do not deem to be trustworthy (however you might come to that conclusion). Your willingness to trust is directly related to your ability to be confident in, or recognize the authority of, that which you are trusting.

Keep that in mind as we turn our attention to the challenges we face in life. The plan we assumed was from God hits a dead end. The relationships that are God-given become fractured and painful to endure. The prescribed medicine or surgery hasn’t helped and pain is a constant companion. We don’t know what to do next. The way forward isn’t clear. God, where are you? What are you doing? Why am I going through this? Why do I have to be part of a church when I just want to be alone? 

If you’ve lived, you know this feeling. Worse yet, if you follow God, you know that the only response to your anguished crying might be “Wait,” or “Take the next step” (while you are wondering “next step to where, exactly?”). Now the issue of authority comes to play. Will you trust the guidance when nothing in your current experience resonates? Can you live with, “I’m doing this because God says to do it?” Or will you default to self as authority?

If you’ve chosen the authority for your life wisely, you will submit to it, even when it’s hard. Why? Because you can think of no greater or more secure authority. Thus, on the basis of that authority which you acknowledge, you act in faith. Faith is “the conviction of things not seen,” a conviction which you have because you recognize authority. God says he’s here. I believe it even if I don’t see him. God says he cares. I believe it when I’m desperately hurting. God says to take a step in an uncomfortable direction. I do it because I choose to trust his guidance.

This is submission to authority in practice. It’s how life works. So, who do you trust?

Blessings!

Doug