And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” –Mark 16:15

I love walking my dog early in the morning. There is something about the stillness of the desert, when the temperature is lowest and the stars still twinkle in a clear sky and everything is quiet. The awesomeness of morning can be almost eerie some days and yet I feel close to God. I trust fully that the holy presence is here, I just know.

This is belief.

In Biblical Greek, belief means to trust, to rely on, to commit oneself. It is about relationship with God and others and living in a committed way that reflects holy virtues.  

In the longer ending of the Gospel of Mark (16:9–20), belief is not portrayed as certainty wrapped up neatly with a bow. It is something that wavers. The disciples hear testimony of resurrection and they hesitate. They are presented with signs and still struggle. They are reluctant to trust that God is already at work beyond what they can see or control, even after all they have shared and been through with Jesus.

And yet, Jesus still sends them. “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news…” Right here and now, amid a fragile, growing, and sometimes resistant belief. This is their calling; this is our calling. This feels important to us.

If trust is real, lived, and relational, then it is something that grows. Belief grows through early morning walks, glorious sunsets, and mountain grandeur. It grows in community, in service, in showing up even when we are unsure. It grows as we listen to one another’s experiences and choose to lean toward hope rather than away from it.

Mark’s gospel doesn’t end with a polished faith, but it does end with a calling. A calling to proclaim good news not just with words, but with lives that reflect healing, welcome, courage, and love.

I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube this Sunday! The prompt question for you to think about this week: What fills you with awe and reminds you that God is still present?

Brett