How's Your Faith?

How’s your faith? That is a question a good friend of mine and I discussed several weeks ago. He has been a follower of Jesus for many years (35+). A few years ago, he had to face a brain tumor diagnosis. And then, just getting past the treatment episode for his brain tumor, he lost his dream job. Talk about an insult to injury. Trying to fulfill his responsibility to provide for his family, he sent out more resumes than he could count. He interviewed at more places than he could remember. And yet the potential employers consistently sent “Sorry, we filled the position.” My friend wondered if God had turned his back on him, if God cared anymore. He said after each rejection, his faith took a punch to the gut, and he felt more and more beaten down. Can you identify? Perhaps not being rejected for a job, but rather due to some other kind of hardship, brokenness, storm, or failure.

The Greek word Apistia is found in the Bible with a profound meaning of unbelief, faithlessness, or lack of faith. In the heat of the moment of a hardship, brokenness, a storm, or failure, we may find ourselves trying to gather at least a mustard seed (itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny seed) of faith. Just barely hanging on by a thread. This is indeed the scenario in Matthew 14:22-33. Jesus and the disciples had just fed 5,000 men (women and children would have increased the number of people fed) from a boy’s basket of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Wouldn’t this eyewitness account have been amazing to have experienced? That somehow 5 loaves and 2 fish were miraculously multiplied to feed well over 5,000 people, maybe double that number. It seems that everyone’s faith would have been busting at the seams at the conclusion of that extraordinary miracle. And yet we find the disciples, in the very next sequence of events, facing an overwhelming storm in a boat and Jesus nowhere to be found. And it seemed, just that quickly, their faith disappeared. The boat had to be large enough to hold at least 13 (Jesus and 12 disciples). Onboard the boat are several professional fishermen who grew up on the water, and for them to be terrified indicates the storm had grown extremely dangerous. Then, more fear enters the disciples’ psyche as they think they see a ghost coming towards them. The good news (which means the Gospel) is that Jesus was coming on the scene. Peter calls out to Jesus, asking, “Jesus, if that is you, tell me to come to you.” And Jesus did. Can you imagine what the disciples might be saying to Peter at this moment? Seriously, Peter, you are going to try that? What’s wrong with you? Typical Peter, you are acting before you think it through. Peter, don’t be dumb. But Peter rose above the thinking in the boat and stepped out on a stormy body of water and headed towards Jesus. And just when you think it can’t get any worse, Peter looks down, takes his eyes off of Jesus, sees the storm, and he sinks into the water. Peter cries out, “Jesus, save me”. And Jesus does just that.

Have you ever been criticized for doing something out of faith that wasn’t considered normal or safe? Have you ever second-guessed Jesus or His Holy Spirit? Have you ever taken your eyes off of Jesus? Have you ever been afraid to take a step of faith? Has fear sunk you? Have you worried rather than worshipped? Or have you responded to Jesus' calling you to get out of the boat?

After Jesus helped Peter back up on top of the water, they walked back to the boat together, and they all (disciples) worshipped God.

Jesus absolutely will come to your rescue. He will help you through any hardship, brokenness, storm, or failure. That’s what being in an authentic relationship with Him is all about. We keep our eyes on Him, and He keeps looking out for us. If you have an authentic relationship with Christ, continue the faith and remain faithful. If you want an authentic relationship with Christ, then trust Him with your life, grow in that relationship, and see what He does next.

My friend has kept the faith and has been faithful. His eyes have been on Jesus; I am happy to report that my friend’s purpose has been restored, and he has employment. God is good!

WAM 09/08/2025