Belief Is Not Certainty
Thursday, September 10, 2026
The issue in prayer is not to pray because we are certain, but to pray because we are uncertain.
—Renita Weems, Listening for God
The Methodist minister Renita Weems was questioned about prayer by a woman no longer practicing her Christian faith:
“What sense is there in praying if you don’t believe in God?”… She sounded pensive.
“You pray in order to believe,” I answered.
“That sounds backwards to me. What’s the sense in praying if you don’t believe?”
“Sometimes you can’t wait for your mind to catch up. Sometimes the heart has to take the initiative.… Even when I don’t, or can’t, believe, I still believe that it’s important to believe,” I heard myself saying. “That’s enough to keep me stammering my prayers.”
“You don’t mean to tell me that you have doubts yourself?… [Why] don’t you just walk away from it?”…
“For the same reason I don’t walk away from any of the myriad things I’ve committed myself to. I don’t want to live my life based solely on my feelings. Feelings change from one moment to the next. I don’t walk away from my marriage just because I don’t love my husband today. Eventually it returns…. I continue to pray until the belief returns.”
Weems reflects on the conversation:
Whatever spirituality is, it is not something to be discovered. It is something to be recovered—something you misplace and recover a thousand times in a lifetime. Nor is belief in God, mystery, or prayer something one either possesses or doesn’t. Rather, belief is something one tries continually to keep oneself open to, accessible to, or something one continually refuses to open oneself up to. The only difference between … [the two of us] was that I still wanted to remain open. Open to what? Open to the possibility that there was something more to life than my vanity, something more than what I could manipulate or grasp…. As inadequate as I felt that day … I wanted to remain open to the possibility that there was something nobler in life than what I could see or touch.
Sometimes we awaken to it through nature. Sometimes it comes to us through art, music, dance, or silence. Sometimes we are reminded of it by interacting with or observing children. Sometimes we happen upon it through chance encounters with strangers. And for a moment, we are smitten with the sublime. And then we lose it. We lose its scent, we can’t make out its sound. Sometimes we stumble around for what feels like days, months, perhaps years, trying to recapture it—trying to pick back up the scent, trying to make out the sounds. But even though we find ourselves stumbling, we’re onto something.
References:
Renita J. Weems, Listening for God: A Minister’s Journey Through Silence and Doubt (Touchstone, 2000), 43–44, 46, 47.
Image Credit and Inspiration: Richárd Ecsedi, untitled (detail), 2019, photo. Unsplash. Click here to enlarge image. We trust the way forward even as the unexpected appears just beyond the edges of the map.
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A Multi-faith Declaration of Peace – Safi Kaskas w/ Bradley Jersak
Discussing Safi Kaskas’s Qur’anic Vision for a Shared Future
Those who’ve known me (Bradley) for a while probably also know my friend Safi Kaskas. Briefly, he is a Jesus-loving Muslim, Qur’anic translator and scholar, and a deeply committed bridge-builder/peacemaker. Despite being in his eighties, he continues to create opportunities to write and speak about how Jesus is the great Unifier, emphasizing the shared teachings of Jesus and the Qur’an.
In this two part video series, Safi discusses with me the foundations (part 1) and principles (part 2) of his “IQRA’ Declaration to Humanity.” As a spokesperson for Islam, he represents the best of that tradition in a way that makes space for a Christian-Muslim collaboration for peace, rooted in our common humanity and our belief in Jesus as the one and only Christ.
While we hold our doctrinal differences with deep respect, our mutual regard has led us beyond dialogue into collaboration as peacemakers and into communion as Jesus-following lovers of God.
One of the great values of viewing our conversations is that Christians can become informed about Islam from an actual, deeply-devout cradle-Muslim (originally Lebanese, now American) who regularly preaches in Mosques on these very themes. No, not all Muslims share his perspective, just as not all Christians share mine—but far better to understand another faith from an authentic adherent than from the caricatures we see in public.
Safi’s Ten Core Principles
In the videos to follow, Safi’s ten core principles for human flourishing are as follows:
1. Humanity Is One Family
The Oneness of God is the foundation of the unity of humanity. All people share a common origin, equal dignity, and a shared responsibility for the future of our world. Diversity of cultures, languages, nations, and traditions is not a cause for conflict but an opportunity for mutual understanding, cooperation, and enrichment.
2. Human Dignity Is Sacred
Every human being is endowed with God-given dignity. Human dignity transcends race, nationality, religion, gender, social status, and political identity. The protection of dignity requires respect for life, freedom, conscience, equality before the law, and participation in public life.
3. Knowledge Is a Sacred Trust
The Qur’an places knowledge at the center of human development. Learning, research, education, and intellectual inquiry are not merely practical pursuits; they are moral responsibilities. Knowledge should be used to advance wisdom, alleviate suffering, strengthen justice, and serve humanity.
4. Revelation and Reason Work Together
Faith and reason are not adversaries but partners. Revelation provides moral guidance and purpose; reason enables humanity to understand reality, solve problems, and advance civilization. The future requires both ethical wisdom and scientific knowledge.
5. Justice Is the Foundation of Peace
No lasting peace can exist without justice. The Qur’an commands fairness, accountability, honesty, and equal treatment under the law. Governments, institutions, and individuals alike are responsible for protecting rights and resisting oppression.
6. Mercy Strengthens Society
Justice must be accompanied by mercy. The Qur’anic vision calls for compassion toward the vulnerable, care for the poor, support for families, and solidarity within communities. Mercy transforms power into service and strengthens the bonds that hold societies together.
7. Consultation Builds Good Governance
The Qur’an describes healthy societies as those whose affairs are conducted through consultation (Shūrā). Consultation affirms human dignity by respecting the voices and participation of people in matters that affect their lives. Good governance requires transparency, accountability, fair representation, and commitment to the common good.
8. Humanity Is Steward of the Earth
Human beings are entrusted with responsibility for the care of creation. Environmental protection, sustainable development, responsible use of resources, and concern for future generations are essential dimensions of this trust. The earth is not merely a possession; it is a trust to be preserved and passed on.
9. Technology Must Serve Humanity
The digital age presents both extraordinary opportunities and significant ethical challenges. Artificial intelligence, digital communication, and emerging technologies must be guided by principles of truth, justice, transparency, privacy, and respect for human dignity. Technology should strengthen human flourishing, not undermine it.
10. Renewal Begins with Iqra’
Every generation is called to renew its engagement with the Qur’an. Renewal does not mean abandoning foundational principles. It means applying timeless values to changing circumstances. The command Iqra’ invites every generation to learn, reflect, innovate, and contribute creatively to the advancement of civilization.
