# XVII: “Unbelief Kept Quiet” explained — A Day at a Time

> Chapter companion for A Day at a Time by Archibald Alexander.

## What happens

The chapter addresses the struggle of faith in a skeptical age, arguing that faith is not the absence of doubt but the deliberate choice to keep unbelief subdued. It encourages readers to fight the good fight of faith, emphasizing that faith can coexist with intellectual perplexities and that what matters is the direction of one's heart toward God.

## Themes in this chapter

### Faith and Trust in God

Central theme: faith is portrayed as a struggle that involves effort and can coexist with doubt; the chapter encourages readers to fight the good fight of faith.

### Hope and Optimism

The chapter offers encouragement that even those with doubts and fears can have faith if their faces are set toward God, ending with a hopeful prayer.

## Character check-ins

### Paul

Quoted as advising Timothy to 'Fight the good fight of faith' (1 Timothy 6:12), and described as experiencing fightings and fears yet keeping the faith.

### Jesus Christ

Referenced as the one through whom God's love, pity, and nearness are revealed, and as the mediator in the closing prayer.

### Timothy

Mentioned as the young recipient of Paul's exhortation to fight the good fight of faith.

## Key lines

> Fight the good fight of faith.

Strive earnestly to maintain and live out your faith.

_Paul's exhortation to Timothy is the chapter's key verse, framing faith as an active struggle._

> With me, faith means perpetual unbelief Kept quiet, like the snake 'neath Michael's foot, Who stands calm just because he feels it writhe.

For me, faith is the constant suppression of doubt, like standing calmly on a snake that is writhing beneath your foot.

_This poetic image illustrates that faith involves actively keeping unbelief subdued, not its absence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_day_at_a_time_se/chapters/xvii-unbelief-kept-quiet
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_day_at_a_time_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_day_at_a_time_se/chapters