12/29/2021
As Christians we speak of faith, and most of us stand on its shore in awe, as if it were a vast sea, but few of us go out upon it, or see beyond what our human eyes are capable of gathering in. Our belief is held in check by many things, fear is one of them.
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 34:3-4 ESV
We look at faith, and as we do, we see it like a raging sea with crashing waves. The power of it frightens us, so we go down to the shore and watch from a safe distance as it crashes upon the rocks, and falls hard upon the sand, then we shout with all our might, so as to be heard above its sound. We yell “God is Great!”, and yet we cower before the promise of Jesus when he says that we too can exercise such awesome strength and power in our lives. We choose only to visit it on the calm days when the sea is as smooth as glass, and dare only to wet our feet in the gently lapping waves at its edge… and we say “God is Merciful, and Good.” In our fearful timidity, we never trust Him in the fullness of His promise and power. Can we bravely face the approaching storm and call out “Help me in my unbelief!”?
“And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!””
Mark 9:23-24 ESV
Faith isn’t meant simply for the calm days in our lives, or to help us smooth out the rough spots in our lives. Our belief, and faith, are meant to see us through the raging storms, and not by cowering in the safety of the boat we are in, but by stepping out into the fury, and trusting enough to walk amidst the tempest as Jesus did. We only experience the full power of faith when we can conquer our human fear, and trust completely in the Lord… when we do this we are transformed, and overcome the world.
“And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.””
Matthew 14:28-33 ESV
In this story we see that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, but we also see that although Peter had faith enough to step out of the boat, and walk on the windblown sea, he was overcome by his fear. If he had only cried out “Help me in my unbelief!” this story would have had a very different ending. If he had asked Jesus to strengthen his faith they would have walked to shore together, and perhaps the Middle East would have fewer mountains today.
“When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.””
Matthew 21:20-22 ESV
So we should not ask about the power of faith, or if we have it within us, but whether we have the courage to unleash it, and the wisdom to trust in our ability to use it wisely. We are given a little faith, the size of a mustard seed, but its power is beyond the imagination of most of us… thus we stand on the shore of this great sea, or dabble our toes into the lapping waves on sunny days, and we dread the storms.
“He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.””
Matthew 17:20 ESV
Are we ready to leave the harbor, and sail into the teeth of a raging storm, unafraid? Are we prepared to calm the waves with a single word from our mouth, or walk upon it in defiance of its foaming and thrashing, turbulence? Then let’s pray that Jesus will “help [our] unbelief” today, and trust in His provision.
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.””
Matthew 21:22 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the tiny mustard seed of faith we have within us, and the enormous power it contains. Thank you for your Son Jesus who teaches us by His word, and action, what is possible if we will only trust in you, and exercise our faith without fear. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God in whom nothing is impossible. Praised be your name for the tiny victories we experience as we use our faith timidly, but praise you all the more for what we achieve in your name when we run in our faith, and cast down mountains as we courageously obey your will. All Glory be to you Father as our faith becomes apparent in the world. Help us in our unbelief Lord, and show us that there is no greater act of faith than to consume the flesh and blood of Jesus… believing without a doubt that these elements are nourishment for our souls; strengthening our faith, and defeating the crashing waves of sin, as they calm the storm of death. Wash us in the blood of Christ as you hear our prayers of repentance, and wipe away our tears of contrition, accept our faith as complete Father, judging us worthy, and seating us at your table forevermore. Praised be your name, now and for forever!
Rich Forbes