Dear Faith Family,
Knowing and believing are not synonymous, though it is a common mistake to consider them so. You see, knowing is a head thing, an acknowledgment, with varying degrees of conviction and certainty that something is true. But believing is a heart thing, an acquiescing to the power of what is true.
In regards to our faith, we can know many things that are true about God, about how God works in the world and what he is up to, and about what God says is true about us and how we can live in this world too. We might even have unwavering convictions that what we know is inarguably true, and yet, we struggle to believe. That is, we struggle to live as if what we know is powerful enough to make a difference.
This necessity of moving from knowledge to belief is why even those of us who know with all certainty God's goodness, graciousness, greatness, and glory can, nevertheless, be wracked with anxiousness, shortsighted, and overcome by grief and despair. What we know stays in our minds and struggles to make its way to the core of our being. Perhaps that is why it is said that that the greatest distance a person can travel is the eighteen or so inches from their head to their heart.
Helping what we know to become what we believe has been a consistent task of God's people for millennia. Fortunately for you and me, what our faith family has discovered about this journey from knowing to believing turns out to be quite simple--though never quick!
The late Henri Nouwen describes the descending movement of faith from head to heart, perhaps better than anyone. And he does so in a way that helps you and me cultivate a life of believing what we know. Here is what Nouwen says,
"How do we concretely move from head to heart? When I lie in my bed, not able to fall asleep because of my many words and worries; when I am preoccupied with all the things that I must do or that can go wrong; when I can't take my mind off my concern for a needy or dying friend--what am I supposed to do? Pray? Fine, but how do I do this?
One simple way is by slowly repeating a particular prayer with as much attentiveness as possible. Focused prayer, first in the mind and then repeated in the heart, becomes easier the more you practice.
When you know ['the Lord's Prayer,' or the 'Shema'] by heart, you have something to start with. Just begin praying those prayers repeatedly. You might like to learn by heart the Twenty-third Psalm ('The Lord is my shepherd...)' or Paul's word's about love to the Corinthians or the Prayer of St. Francis* ('Lord, make me an instrument of your peace...').
As you lie in bed, drive your car, wait for the bus, or walk your dog, you can slowly let the words of one of these prayers go through your mind down to your heart by trying to listen with your whole being to what you are repeating. You may be distracted by your worries, but if you keep going back to the words of the prayer, you will gradually discover that your worries become less obsessive, your attention becomes more focused, and you really start to enjoy praying. As the prayer descends from your mind into the center of your being [i.e., your heart], you will discover [the truth's] healing power."
My suggestion, commit to memory one or more of these prayers. Then, when you feel the damn between the head and heart being built up by anxiousness, doubt, or busyness, follow Nouwen's counsel and slowly repeat the prayer with as much attentiveness as possible. I believe in doing so, you'll discover the power of what is true, and the truth shall set you free.
Love you. God bless.
*The Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.