It had to hurt hearing those words. On at least four separate occasions, Jesus spoke them to his disciples.
As they foolishly fell apart in the middle of storms or worriedly wondered whether they would have enough food to eat, Jesus would shake his head.
性视界传媒淵ou of little faith,性视界传媒 he would ask, 性视界传媒淲hy did you doubt?性视界传媒
As I read the exploits of the disciples in the Bible, I find myself wondering the same thing. I mean, they saw Jesus性视界传媒 miracles. They saw him walk on water, heal the sick, and raise the dead. How could they still waver? How could they still doubt?
Why didn性视界传媒檛 they have more faith?
But then again, you and I have seen God性视界传媒檚 hand powerfully provide. When we look back on our lives, we can see how he has, in one way or another, always gotten us through every hard time. Few of us have ever had even one day in our lives in which we didn性视界传媒檛 have food to eat, clothes to wear, or a place to sleep.
And yet we stress in the storms of life. We worry and wonder when the bills pile up. We struggle with depression and anxiety.
What is anxiety, but fear? What is fear, but doubt?
Every time we lie awake at night, worried and stressed about our jobs or money, our families or health, Jesus shakes his head and says, 性视界传媒淵ou of little faith, why do you doubt?性视界传媒
Sadly, some Christians today think that the solution to the littleness of our faith is for us to turn inward 性视界传媒 to focus our attention on our faith or the lack thereof. They constantly talk about your faith. They point you to your faith.
性视界传媒淚f only you have more faith,性视界传媒 they say, 性视界传媒淵ou can move mountains. And if the mountains of your life don性视界传媒檛 move, it性视界传媒檚 because you don性视界传媒檛 have enough faith.性视界传媒
I call that 性视界传媒渂elly button watching.性视界传媒 If you walk around staring at your belly button, what happens? You run into walls. You bang your head. You get run over by a truck.
The solution to the littleness of our faith 性视界传媒 the way to deal with doubt 性视界传媒 is not to look at ourselves. The solution is to look up.
Think of Peter when he walked on water. As long as Peter looked at Jesus, he was fine. But then he looked at the wind and the waves. He looked down at his feet. He thought to himself, 性视界传媒淚 can性视界传媒檛 walk on water.性视界传媒
And splash. Down he went.
Look up. See Jesus. Look at his promises. Remember how he walked on water and calmed storms, how he healed the sick and raised the dead, how he lived, died, and rose again for you. What do you have to fear? What do you have to worry about?
Faith isn性视界传媒檛 about looking inward. It性视界传媒檚 about looking upward and outward. It性视界传媒檚 about looking to Jesus. Seeing what he has done and promises to do for us is what strengthens and solidifies our faith.
So, when you find yourself floundering in your faith 性视界传媒 when you性视界传媒檙e dealing with doubt 性视界传媒 don性视界传媒檛 look at the mirror and think, 性视界传媒淚 need to fix this. I need to be better.性视界传媒
Look up. Open your Bible. Go to church. Take Holy Communion. See what Jesus has done and promises to do for you.
That性视界传媒檚 how God grows and strengthens our little faith.
