We know how the story turns out. Ahaz did not listen to Isaiah’s counsel. He doubted the power of God. He lost faith, so Ahaz went to the dreaded Assyrians and joined forces with them against Kings Pekah and Rezin. This unwise decision on the part of Ahaz ultimately results in the destruction of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 BC.

We know these familiar words of the prophet Isaiah, because we read them each Advent. The child that the young woman was to bear, according to Isaiah, was to be called Immanuel, "God with us." Isaiah, of course, is speaking of a child that was born shortly after he spoke these words. Scholars believe that Isaiah is referring to the imminent birth of King Hezekiah. But Christians understand this to be a reference to the coming King of Israel, Jesus, who arrives centuries later.

Here, Ahaz had the chance to ask for a sign from God to confirm Isaiah’s word. And how often we wish we would be in Ahaz’s position, where we encouraged to ask for a visible sign to show us that we are on the right track. Here Ahaz refuses to make such a request of God. Unlike Ahaz, I have never had a problem with asking God for a sign!

But when I think of signs and prayer I am reminded of what Time magazine calls the Number One "Biggest Story in Religion of 2007." And, in case you have not seen a recent edition of Time, that story is Mother Teresa’s crisis of faith. The reason this story has gotten so much press is because the private letters of Mother Teresa were published this year, the book is entitled Come Be My Light and they paint a portrait of a person who struggled with doubt and despair for over fifty years. For all of these years she felt the complete absence of God. In one of her letters she said of Jesus, "The silence and the emptiness is so great—that I look and do not see—Listen and do not hear."

Her letters speak powerfully to people who struggle with doubt, who have sought an answer to prayer and found none, who have felt spiritually empty, and this is particularly true at this time of year, in the season of Advent. It seems that this time of year people pray even more powerfully for signs or answers to prayers. And the signs and symbols of this season can prove difficult for some. We see a picture of "mother and child" during this time. I remember a woman telling me that during the Advent season, she prayed and prayed and prayed that she would get pregnant and have a child. We see and hear about "the holy family," all peaceful and calm. And that only reminds of our own families that may be mired in conflict. We hear about how God brought Mary and Joseph together. We pray that we will meet the man or woman we are to marry.

There are times when I think that I feel those prayers. I know what many people are praying for. And when we have our prayers of intercession here at the Table, when we pause in silence briefly for people to say their own prayers, I find myself hesitating to speak, concerned that I am interrupting someone’s unfinished prayer. I am always sensitive to that brief time of silence, but it seems that I am hyper-sensitive to it in the season of Advent.

When prayers are not answered when we want them answered or how we want them answered, or we don’t see the signs that we seek, we are tempted to fall into doubt. But here is where the examples of Mother Teresa and King Ahaz speak to us. King Ahaz panicked. He acted on his doubts by "taking control" of the situation, and his actions proved to be disastrous. Mother Teresa, on the other hand, remained faithful. She did not allow her doubts to keep her from praying or ministering to the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. She remained faithful even during those "dark nights of the soul."

Today I speak to those who are struggling with doubt. Doubt is a reality that we all struggle with at one time or another. If you don’t give up, your faith will be strengthened. The sturdiest of faith comes out of the struggle with doubt. That is why doubt is important.

In a moment we will sing the Christmas carol "O Come All Ye Faithful." You may not feel like singing it because you are in a season of doubt. I say to you, "sing it anyway!" It is especially important in times of doubt that we keep trying to be faithful, knowing that God is faithful to us even in our times of doubt.