The Importance of Faith
I love when I go to church and the sermon lingers with me long after the service is over. Those are the sermons that you find yourself meditating on at odd times during the week. I experienced one of those a few Sundays ago. That sermon was about the importance of faith. The Pastor talked about the fact that sometimes we can hope for certain things without actually having the faith to believe that it will happen.
As I thought about the sermon, I examined myself and the level of my faith as related to different things I’m believing God for. I realised that although I still hope many of them will happen, my faith that they will is not at strong as it used to be. Somewhere on the journey my faith took a beating.
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 28-31 (NIV)
The above verses came to mind as I examined myself this past week. I thought about Peter as I tried to figure out what interrupted my momentum and caused me to doubt God’s word. Peter was triumphantly walking out his faith when he took his eyes off his destination and looked at his surroundings instead. Immediately fear gripped him and he began to sink. Like Peter, our faith is weakened when we focus on our problems instead of our God.
I love that Peter immediately called out to Jesus. He had no doubt that Jesus would save him. Although Jesus chastised Peter for his lack of faith, He was not angry with Peter. He reached out His hands and saved him.
Like Peter, sometimes our faith takes a beating. We lose our momentum and feel as if we are going to fall. However, just like Peter we can always call on Jesus. He will not let us down. If you’re like me and lose your momentum at times, let’s build our faith up by spending time in His word and in prayer. We can also remind ourselves of the many times we have proven Him over the years. Yes, doubts will come but quality time with Him will remind us why we first believed Him.
Such a powerful message, Bernadine. Yes, I often doubt too, and take my eyes off of Him. I love the example you have share of Peter. He reminds me often of myself, and I know that I can reach for Jesus when I am sinking.
He is watching over us, waiting for our call.