Is Your Faith Little or Great?

Welcome to Girls to Grow today! I took a bit of a blog break over the last couple of weeks, but I’m happy to be back.

Last week my husband and I were able to join a group of people from his company on a cruise in the Caribbean. We had a nice, relaxing time and especially enjoyed visiting Puerto Rico for the first time.

Now we’re on the countdown to college for our girls! I’m slowly but surely marking things off the list with our freshman. She’s been able to connect with two girls who will be her roommates, so that’s been fun.

Recently I’ve been reading in the book of Matthew during my morning Bible time. It struck me one day how often Jesus comments on a person’s faith.

Here are several examples.

“When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” [8:10]

“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” [8:26]

“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” [9:2]

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” [9:22]

“Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.” [9:29]

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” [14:31]

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” [15:28]

Many of these people had great faith for healing, either theirs or someone else’s. The disciples, though, had little faith when the storm came and rocked their boat. Peter needed faith to walk on the water.

Fatih sounds like such a big, important word..and it is. According to Hebrews 11:6, we can’t please God without it. Maybe, like me, you’re in the midst of a transition or facing a situation with an uncertain outcome and you need faith.

Let’s look at some truths about faith.

Faith is complete confidence and trust in God.

Do you see that word “complete?” That means totally and fully putting our trust in God. It’s not, “Yeah, I believe God is going to meet my need/answer my prayer, but I’m also trying to work it out on my own over here just in case He doesn’t.” Anyone but me ever been there?

I don’t think the blind men who come to Jesus for healing in Matthew 9 had a backup plan. Their faith was in His power to give them sight. And He did.

It’s not “blind” faith when we put our trust in God.

There are several things we can base our faith on. The first is what we know about God from His Word. Deuteronomy 7:9 says that He is the faithful God. Faithfulness is part of His character.

Not only does the Bible tell us that our God is faithful, but it shows us through the stories we find there. Hebrews 11 is full of them!

Our faith is also based on previous experiences in our lives. You don’t have to be a Christian for long before you’ll go through a trial and you will find that God is faithful. What we’re facing today may be a different circumstance than in the past, but we know God will be faithful again.

Faith will drive out fear.

Notice in Matthew 8:26 above that Jesus asks the disciples why they’re afraid. It’s because their faith was so small. I’m not judging them – I wouldn’t have been calm tossing up and down in a boat during a storm! But they had Jesus right there with them. And He’s also with us in whatever our storm is, wanting us to demonstrate our faith in His ability to keep us safe.

It’s in seasons of waiting that our faith grows.

My flesh doesn’t like this one. Waiting is hard, y’all. Yet in the seasons of waiting, we can cling to God’s promises.

It’s so easy to want to run ahead of God. Remember Abraham and Hagar? God had promised Abraham a great seed. But instead of waiting on God’s timing, Abraham and Sarah took the matter into their own hands. What a mess that was! But what a wonderful day when all the waiting was over and God blessed them with Isaac just as He had promised.

Don’t you want to be one of those that Jesus commended for having great faith?! With God’s help, we can be.

A prayer for today: Dear God, give us faith that we might please You. Help us to fully and completely put our trust in You. We have seen your faithfulness in the past and claim the promises we find in Your Word. Drive out the fear that threatens our peace. You have everything under control, whether we feel like it or not. And when you ask us to wait, may we do so with complete confidence that You know best and are always working for Your glory and our good.

Related posts:

• What Sarah Teaches Me About Faith
• How to Keep on Going When Your Faith Is Weak
• 5 Bible Promises to Pray Over Your Life Today