FAITH | February 23 - March 1

When it comes to having faith, I often feel like Peter on the waves. Whether I like it or not, the world rages on around me and my attention is pulled to the fierceness of the storms: the pelting of the rain, the swirling black of the clouds, the howling of the wind. All of the worldly things that speak fear, distraction, or doubt into my heart and mind.

And, like Peter, in the looking away I can feel what it is to be overcome. To begin to sink. And while Jesus reaches out, the first thing I tend to receive from him is not the kindness or mercy of his hand around mine, but instead the verse that follows, “’You of little faith,’ [Jesus] said, ‘why did you doubt?’”

Why did I doubt?

Why do I have so little faith?

Because no matter how hard I try, it seems I never have enough faith. 

At least, not by the way the world might try to measure it…

Then I spiral in a state of shame—because I can never manufacture enough faith to prove it. I remember the verses calling out those who are lacking in faith, those who lack faith as small as a mustard seed.

And I figure they must mean me.

Jesus said, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him…”

It sometimes seems like having enough faith would mean doing, witnessing, or having some part in something so miraculous… But I think what I too often forget is that faith is the thing that brings you before God in the asking; not the ways that the asking in faith is answered.

Jesus fully knows our human limits, and I think when it comes to faith we can acknowledge that Christ has come and fulfilled a picture of ‘perfect faith’ and that is not the expectation for us.

The ask from Jesus in every story of those ‘having little faith’ is to come to him with the worries, doubts, and storms of life without hesitation. The invitation then, is to grieve the ways that you have tried to manufacture ‘enough faith’ through religious spirit. Let it go and instead choose simple faith: to “be still and know that I am God.”

---

READ

Slowly read through the passages offered. How do they relate to the reflection? What is Spirit revealing through them?

Matthew 14:22-33

REFLECT

Invite the Holy Spirit into your reflections and welcome the voice of Jesus to help you answer these questions.

1.  How have I been living as if there is not enough faith?

2.  What unhealthy attachments do I have to the limitations being revealed

Acknowledge and process this with Jesus and ask him to help you release that attachment.

RESPOND

Using the guided prompts, take time to respond in confession. In repentance how can you turn towards God and others?

Jesus, I confess that I have been trying to operate out of my own resource of faith and choose instead to live in dependence on your provision.

I resist the lie that limitations are curses and choose instead to receive them as means of grace to bring me closer to you.

RECEIVE

Take time to listen to the voice of Jesus and receive his mercy and grace. Help open my eyes to see how you are providing faith in my life?

Thank you, Jesus, for your provision.

FAST

As a way of living into your repentance and resisting the idea of scarcity of faith, this week consider fasting from sources of information that cause you to worry and practice instead sitting with Jesus in silence.