Determining Faith

So, I'm sitting here this morning (10.7.23) in my quiet time reading Matthew 14. I got to verse 29 and read about Peter asking Jesus if he could come out onto the water with him. Then down at verse 31, where it says, "but when he saw the wind blowing, he was afraid and began to sink, he cried out, saying Lord save me. Immediately, Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him, oh you of little faith. Why did you doubt? They came back to the boat, the wind stopped, and all of those that were in the ship came to worship Jesus, saying "you are the true Son of God." 

As I sit here, I am thinking about the moments in my life when I ask God for help, for favor, for direction, or assistance when my life is going fairly well. I am most certain God will take care of whatever small task may be causing me stress in that moment. However, there are those times, when when a dust up happens or wind starts to blow and immediately I get nervous. I may start to panic a little and wonder where God is in this mess.

In reading this passage of scripture, I thought about Jesus' response to Peter. Jesus immediately reached out when Peter became unsure and began to sink. Yet, Jesus, in that moment, reminded Peter to have faith. All that got me to thinking...

I have known about the story of Jesus and Peter walking on water since my days in vacation Bible school. As far back as I could remember, I thought this story was about Jesus saving Peter when he became afraid. Peter called out to Jesus and Jesus saved him. Living out my Christian faith I always thought, cry out to God and he will save me. Today, that belief changed a bit as I thought, what if the message was to be Jesus reminding Peter to have faith in troubled times not necessarily that Jesus would immediately save when he was called out to?

Of course, as Christians, we believe that God will help us to work out whatever is negatively impacting our lives and our relationship with him if we ask but as I have learned, that help is not always immediate. It is certainly true that if God so chooses, he can work it out immediately, however, what happens when he chooses not to? We must have faith and simply believe that he will do what is best at the right time.

I am sure Peter felt instant comfort when Jesus "immediately" reached out to save him. We can have that instant comfort as well when we pray and connect with the Prince of Peace that lives on the inside of us. Our faith can be restored in that moment and we can rest in knowing that whatever is troubling us will be sorted out in due time.

Well, anyway, it was just a thought...