Faithless Fear

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” Ephesians 3:17

The power of faith is not to be underestimated. The power of faith is a gift from God Himself. The scripture states:

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom 12:3)

Many people feel inferior in their Christian life thinking that they do not have the ability of other followers of Jesus to live in faith. The good news is that God is the One who bestows the “measure” of faith each one of His children receives.

Your faith is grown not by “exercising” your faith, but rather your faith is grown when you seek God in His word. The scripture gives us this understanding about the way we increase our faith, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17)

If you are struggling in your life and are seeking to have the faith to follow God’s will and purpose in your life, read God’s word! The power to live a life of faith is simple. Read the word of God and your faith will “cometh by hearing” God’s word.

The power of faith is how you are able to please God, “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” (Heb 11:6) When we, by faith, reach out to God, He is pleased but there is one more condition to pleasing God when you approach Him. You must, “believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6)

The rewards of God are reserved for the ones who will not only seek Him but also have faith that He is able to fulfill “all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Php 4:19) We are not to have “faith” in our self and our abilities but we are to have faith in God’s ability because of our relationship with Jesus.

Faith is not only “measured” to us by God and increased by hearing God’s word; faith is depleted when we doubt God’s power. Jesus said to Peter, when He lifted him from the stormy waters after Peter, “saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid,“ and cried, saying, Lord, save me. "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Mat 14:30-31)

Peter indeed had the faith to step out on the stormy sea but his fear caused his faith to diminish. Faced with the fear of the situation that his faith had led him into, Peter lost the power to “walk in faith” on the water.

We are in good company when we find our faith failing and just as Jesus was there and “stretched forth his hand” to Peter in his time of faithless fear, Jesus will reach out and lift you from your “failing faith.” Just as a parent helps a child take the first steps in their attempt to walk; God helps you as you stumble in your faith walk.

We have this promise from God, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb 13:5) The Apostle Paul makes this observation about God’s enduring nature:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39)

Go ahead; step in faith out of your “boat” of comfort and into faith if Jesus calls you. If you find yourself “sinking” in the waters of your walk with Jesus; He will surely lift you out of your troubles and deliver you to the place He is leading you to go.