OrEd-T-17.8-The Need for Faith

OrEd-T-17.8-The Need for Faith65. There is no problem in any situation that faith will not solve. There is no shift in any aspect of the problem but will make solution impossible. For if I shift part of the problem elsewhere, the meaning of the problem must be lost, and the solution to the problem is inherent in its meaning. It is possible that all my problems have been solved, but I have removed myself from the solution. Yet faith must be where something has been done and I see it is done. A situation is a relationship, being the joining of thoughts. If problems are perceived, it is because the thoughts are judged to be in conflict. But if the goal is truth, this is impossible. Some idea of bodies must have entered, for minds cannot attack.66. The thought of bodies is the sign of faithlessness, for bodies cannot solve anything. And it is their intrusion on the relationship, an error in my thoughts about the situation, which then becomes the justification for my lack of faith. I will make this error, but need not be concerned at all with that. The error does not matter. Faithlessness brought to faith will never interfere with truth. But faithlessness used against truth will always destroy faith. If I lack faith, I need to ask that it be restored where it was lost. I will not seek to have it made up to me elsewhere, as if I had been unjustly deprived of it.*67. Only what I have not given can be lacking in any situation. But I will remember this: the goal of holiness was set for our relationship, but not by me. Holiness can only be seen through faith, and our relationship was not holy because our faith in one another was so limited and little. Our faith must grow to meet the goal that has been set. The goal's reality will call this forth, for we will see that peace and faith will not come separately. We can remain faithful to each other in a situation based on faith and holiness. 68. Every situation in which we find ourselves is but a means to meet the purpose set for our relationship. See it as something else, and we are faithless. We must not use faithlessness. We let it enter, and look upon it calmly, but we do not use it. Faithlessness is the servant of illusion and wholly faithful to its master. Use it and it will carry us straight to illusions. We must not be tempted by what it offers us. Faithlessness does not interfere with the goal, but with the value of the goal to us. We will not accept the illusion of peace it offers, but look upon its offering and recognize it is illusion. 69. The goal of illusion is as closely tied to faithlessness as faith is to truth. If we lack faith in anyone to fulfill, and perfectly, his part in any situation dedicated in advance to truth, our dedication is divided. And so we have been faithless to each other and used our faithlessness against each other. No relationship is holy unless its holiness goes with it everywhere. Holiness and faith go hand in hand. The goal's reality will call forth and accomplish every miracle needed for its fulfillment. Everything, small or enormous, weak or compelling, will be gently turned to the goal's use and purpose. The universe will serve it gladly, as it serves the universe. But we must not interfere. 70. The power set in us in whom the Holy Spirit's goal has been established is so far beyond our little conception of the infinite, that we have no idea how great the strength that goes with us. And we can use this strength in perfect safety. This strength is so great that it reaches past the stars and to the universe that lies beyond them. Yet, our little faithlessness can make this mighty strength useless, if we would use faithlessness instead of faith.71. Jesus asks us to think on this, and learn the cause of faithlessness: I think I hold against the other what he has done to me. But what I really blame him for is what I did to him. It is not his past but mine I hold against him. And I lack faith in him because of what I was. Yet I am as innocent of what I was as he is. What never was is causeless, and is not there to interfere with truth. There is no cause for faithlessness, but there is a Cause for faith. That Cause has entered any situation which shares Its purpose. The light of truth shines from the center of the situation and touches everyone called to the situation's purpose. It calls to everyone. There is no situation which does not involve our whole relationship in every aspect and complete in every part. We can leave nothing of ourselves outside it and keep the situation holy. For the situation shares the purpose of our whole relationship and derives its meaning from it.72. We need to enter each situation with the faith that we give to each other, or we are faithless to our own relationship. Our faith will call others to share our purpose, as this same purpose called forth the faith in us. And we will see the means we once employed to lead us to illusions transformed to means for truth. Truth calls for faith, and faith makes room for truth. When the Holy Spirit changed the purpose of our relationship by exchanging ours for His, the goal He placed there was extended to every situation in which we enter or will ever enter. And every situation was made free of the past, which would have made the situation purposeless.73. We call for faith because of Him Who walks with us in every situation. We are no longer wholly insane, nor no longer alone. For loneliness in God must be a dream. We, whose relationship shares the Holy Spirit's goal, are set apart from loneliness because the truth has come. Truth's call for faith is strong. We must not use our faithlessness against truth, for truth calls us to salvation and to peace.