Long Faith

You may already know the story of Peter walking on water, however, if you are like me, you may have been unsure why Jesus responded the way he did. To catch everyone up, in Matthew 14:22-33, we see an account where the disciples are on a boat in a storm. As they struggle with the boat, they see Jesus walking on the water. They fear it is a ghost, and Peter, full of faith, cries out to Jesus and says “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” Jesus said “come”, and Peter steps out of the boat – WALKING ON WATER! Amazing.

Then the wind and waves distract Peter and he takes his focus off Jesus and begins to sink (What a relatable metaphor for us!). Jesus catches him, and says something that I always found a bit odd: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” This seems like a rebuke. What does Jesus mean “little faith”? He had the most faith of all the disciples! He was the only one to step out and walk on water. So why would Jesus say that?

It turns out that the meaning of “little faith” does not mean ‘not very much’ or not substantial enough. It means little in duration. A faith that did not last long enough. Read the passage for yourself with that understanding, and suddenly, Jesus’ words to Peter make much more sense. It changes the feel from disappointment to empathy. Peter was too easily distracted by the threats around him.

Similarly, in our own lives, we proclaim our belief in God, engage in prayer, and participate in church activities. Yet, when the storms of life rage around us—be it work stress, family pressures, or digital distractions—we too often lose sight of Jesus. Our faith falters: We don’t pray as much. We skip out on church because we’re tired. We don’t read our Bibles because we just need to decompress with a show or video game. We take our eyes of Jesus and we find ourselves struggling and sinking.

But life with Jesus is abundant. The Holy Spirit strengthens us to navigate life's challenges if only we persevere in our faith. As Hebrews 12:2 reminds us, let us "run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus," drawing inspiration to continue in unwavering faith even amidst adversity.

So, as you journey through life's storms this week, hold fast to your faith. Don't let distractions pull you away from Jesus. Instead, cling to Him, walk on water, and experience the fullness of life that comes from unwavering trust.

 “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Heb 12:2-3