Ah, yes. Faith.
I've struggled with faith throughout my walk with God, especially last year of 2021. Real talk. When things didn't go my way, when storms formed against me or people who I loved and trusted walked away, my faith got shaken. I couldn't believe God would allow these things to happen to me. I tried over and over again to examine my life, thinking for sure I had to do something wrong. I asked God, "Why is this happening? Did I stray away from you? Was I not obedient in a certain area?"
Now, let me make this clear: I wasn't struggling in my faith of believing God is real and Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Not that at all. As the years went by, with prayer after prayer and things not changing, I was losing faith that God would turn things around for me. I believed He could for everyone else, but for some reason, not me. (Also, I've learned throughout my walk with God, do not place your faith in anything or anyone, but God. He does not fail, He's faithful.)
I remember a time I was sharing with an old friend how I struggled with my faith. How it is sometimes hard to see things turn around for yourself, especially when you feel like you have lost everything/everyone, and everything/everyone feels like it's/they're against you.
This old friend of mine told me they never struggled in their faith. That they have always trusted and had faith in God. I've never questioned.
Personally, I cannot believe that. In a time, everyone has struggled to have faith or in their faith. We've all be shaken before. We've all questioned God a time or two.
In James 1:5-6 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."
Soooo good!
I believe in strong-stand firm kind of faith in God, but have you ever experienced a big blow of a painful loss, a tragic accident, a serious health problem? Perhaps a family member lost in the world or bill collectors that continue to call you every day because you owe them?
It's not about these things making you give up on God and walking away from Him, but when you've gone through a long test of the same trial or many trials and you've been praying for a while, your faith tends to shake a little when you don't see a change. Doubt starts creeping through the back door, as the scripture said, "...like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."
You wonder, will things turn around? For me? For my family member? For my friend? For the church? For the world?
There is nothing like losing something out of your control and you've reach your end.
In the middle of the storms, I'm facing, and it does feel like many, I'm learning to keep fixing my eyes on Jesus.
Remember what Peter did when He saw Jesus? He got out of the boat and let faith lead his every step to Jesus, but how far did he go? Was he near Jesus? He was.
Matthew 14:30, Peter began to sink and cried out, "Save me, Lord." Verse 31, Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. Peter was right there with Jesus! With verse 31, He was arm's length away!
But back to verse 30, Peter saw. He looked around and saw all of those raging waves and strong winds. He took His eyes off Jesus. Notice, it didn't seem like it was a long time for him to start sinking when he took his eyes off Jesus. Even deeper, as much faith Peter had to walk on water, he had as much fear to shake his faith and cause him to sink.
Your fear should never match your faith. Yeah, people believe you should have no fear. We shouldn't but we're humans. We fear. We doubt. We get shaken. But perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). When Peters eyes were on Jesus, Jesus' love cast Peters fear away.
Our faith should be as strong as Peter when he got out of the boat.
Look back a few verses. The boat shook when the storms came against it. The disciples fought and did all what they could do. Even though the storms raged, the winds were strong, and the waves clashed, but like Peter, when your eyes are kept on Jesus, you step out of that boat and walk on water, you won't even noticed how far you walked through it all.
Your faith may shake, but when you keep your eyes on Jesus, you won't sink.
Like my grandmother has told me, "When you've done all that you can do, just stand."
Scriptures of the Week:
"But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here!"
-Matthew 14:27
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
-Hebrews 11:6
Songs of the Week:
Stand by Donnie McClurkin | Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong UNITED | Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship | Faith by Jordan Feliz
Enjoy Your Weekend! 😊
