![]() “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. If you have faith and do not doubt (Matthew 21:18-22)Įarly in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. But it still falters and fluctuates at strange moments-even after the hard work is done. Sometimes we step out and do something challenging, and after we get over the hurdles, that’s when we begin to struggle because we can’t go back.įaith isn’t something you have or don’t have. Our faith waxes and wanes at different moments. But the day you touch down in your new country, you decide you don’t want to do it anymore. You prepare for housing and employment in another country, and you quit your job. You go back to school and get all the training you need. Imagine feeling called to the mission field. ![]() It’s pretty safe to say that Jesus was proud of Peter at that moment. He panicked after experiencing the miracle. He was reminding the disciple that he’d already done the hard part. He literally stood on water! Jesus wasn’t chastising Peter. So why would Jesus single out his lack of faith?įor a moment, Peter resisted every rule he knew about the sea. He’s the only person besides Jesus who walked on water.He’s the only one who got out of the boat.He was the only disciple who spoke out in faith upon seeing Jesus.Keeping all that in mind, what do you imagine Jesus was trying to communicate to Peter by saying he had little faith? Matthew tells us that he actually walked out on the water toward the Lord.īut when he saw the wind picking up, he panicked and began to sink. He is way out of his element, but he still gets out of the boat. Peter stands up in the boat, throws a leg over the side, and then throws the other over, too. Peter calls out to the Lord and tells Him, “If that is you, then call out for me to come to you.” And the Lord does. In a classic gospel anecdote, the disciples see the Lord walking on water toward their boat in the middle of the night. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ![]() But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” Biblically speaking, faith is never merely about the specific beliefs we have-because our lives will always reveal where our faith lies. We can say we trust God while leaning on our own understanding to make decisions.Īs this passage points out, it’s only as we submit to God’s way that our path begins to straighten. Are we willing to concede that there are limitations to our understanding? Or are we willing to put the Lord to the test? The issue is never about what we convince ourselves we believe. In addressing faith, the topic really begins right here. We can lean into what we know and understand about God and His ways, or we can trust in our own understanding. When it comes to having faith, the Bible often portrays it as a question of whose perspective we intend to rely on. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Do not be wise in your own eyes fear the Lord and shun evil. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Trust the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5-8) Let’s press in and see if we get a better understanding of this essential topic. We’ve pulled together 10 key passages about faith and doubt to help illuminate the differences (and maybe even similarities) between faith and doubt. If faith pleases God, then what do we do with our doubt? Are our questions a sign that we lack saving faith? Is doubt the opposite of faith? Is faith about making ourselves feel certain? These are critical and nuanced questions. ![]() And sometimes, the topic is presented in ways that are confusing and only increase people’s anxiety about their doubt. Issues of faith and doubt have a massive impact on Christians of every maturity level.
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