Where's Your Faith?

Faith is active, not passive. It does not sit in the boat, shivering and afraid. Instead, it leaps boldly off a rickety platform into the wild, raging waters of life where Jesus is there to meet us.

a hard look at faith in a time of chaos according to
​Matthew 14:23-33 

Back when we lived in Michigan, we took the kids to one of these ropes and zip-line obstacle courses out in the woods. It was called Treetop Adventures. But a more accurate name would have been Phobia Forrest.

Imagine an intricate web of ropes and wires that connect to trees and rickety platforms high above the ground where only birds and squirrels dare to go.
 
The general idea is this: Your risk your life to move through a series of swinging rope challenges. Each one takes you to the next level of slightly more terrifying obstacles.

If you know my wife, it shouldn’t surprise you that she made me go first. Not because she’s evil, but because Kathleen knew I’d never leave the ground if left on my own.

​So up the rope I went. Praying no one will notice my panic especially my children.

In front of me was a young couple. The guy put on a brave face for his date who, in all her petite glory, shared my fear of heights. Having carefully navigated the first part of the course, she and I found ourselves together on a rather small platform of this particular “adventure.”

The only way to get to the next set of stress tests was to strap ourselves to a very thin rope and jump to the ground below. This was something the young lady was not willing to do. There we were, the two of us standing on a tiny platform facing our fear of heights and discerning our willingness to trust a piece of rope no thicker than a clothesline.
 
On the ground her boyfriend made all sorts of promises to coax her and calm her fears. I did my best to help this frightened stranger, but next to pushing her off…I had nothing. Fear had gotten the best of her. And me.

Long story short, she eventually closed her eyes and jumped. She floated gently into her boyfriend’s awaiting arms where she began to sob. It was a beautiful and heartwarming reunion.
 
But here’s the kicker, I was next. And there were no arms waiting for me down there. Nothing but the hard, cold ground - with its sticks and rocks taunting me. Instead of gentle coaxing, all I got were my kids yelling at me to keep moving. I won’t tell you all the mean things they said, or how long I stood there, but I too eventually took that great leap. 

​Just before my feet touched the ground, a great surge of life welled up in me. Which produced the right amount of adrenaline and excitement to take on the next set of challenges. 
 
Such is the world of faith. It can either scare you. Or fill you with life.

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.  And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”                       Matthew 14:23-33

Of all the questions Jesus asks, “Where is your faith? Why do you doubt?” are the ones I have trouble answering. I have lacked faith because I have doubted it.

I can identify with this story because I have also spent time on a boat, with Jesus, spiritually speaking. And like the disciples, I too have faced my fair share of storms - literal and metaphorical.
 
Now the first thing I want to point out is it’s Jesus who pushes the Twelve out into the water. Since most of them were sailors, couldn’t they tell a massive storm was brewing? And if Jesus knew, then why would he endanger them like that?
 
Another thing worth pointing out is that the Hebrew word for water is mayim, which comes from the root word meaning ‘chaos.’ So, why does Jesus push his disciples out into the chaos? Is he testing their faith? Or flexing on them? Or maybe Jesus is simply trying to remind his students that their mission isn’t always going to be smooth sailing.

As most of us already know, doubt and faith will inevitably cross paths. Like high pressure and low pressures clashing over the Midwest, when the two collide, a spiritual storm will brew.
 
According to both stories, Jesus not only overcomes the storms we face, but he also uses our faith to strengthen us so that we too can overcome the chaos. Jesus knows that sometimes we will find ourselves on a platform high above our comfort zone and we will have to jump. This will take some kind of faith, be it big or small, we got to exercise and strengthen it to face whatever lies ahead.
 
The Hebrew word for faith is emunah, a verb that literally means, “to take firm action.” This is the kind of faith Jesus builds in us because he knows what he’s asking of us will require doing things we might think are scary or impossible. Like loving the unlovable, forgiving the unforgivable, being peacemakers as the waves begin to churn and swell.
 
Faith is active, not passive. It does not sit in the boat, shivering and afraid. Instead, it leaps boldly off a rickety platform into the wild, raging waters of life where Jesus is there to meet us.

​We have to work out our faith in small steps, every day until it becomes a natural part of who we are. We can face the challenges we meet in the world, not just fearlessly, but faithfully.
 ​

Look, Peter hesitates and doubts. It’s a natural response for any sane human. He also questions Jesus, and that’s ok too. Whatever he is feeling or facing, Peter still accepts the challenge. And does the unimaginable.
 
Faith can scare you, or it can transform and empower you strengthening you do to what you never thought was possible.
 
Here’s the thing, we will eventually face that moment in life where we find ourselves on the edge. Some of us will jump fearlessly. But most of us will jump reluctantly, and with great doubt. That is nothing to be ashamed of, or embarrassed by. What’s important is that every step you take leads you closer to God - who is with you always.
 
In their doubt and fear, the disciples are able to see Jesus for who he truly is. The incarnate, presence of God among us. The one even nature bows down to. Sometimes it takes a massive storm, or dumpster fire, to see who Jesus is and how he can calm our fear and the chaos around us.

With each little step of faith we take towards him, our faith begins to build muscle memory. God knows we will need that muscle if we are going to live out our faith, faithfully…in Christ’s likeness.
 
Again, let’s look at Peter, who is always too quick to respond. Peter accepts this crazy invitation with what little faith he has and takes that first terrifying step towards Jesus. He keeps his eye on his teacher the whole time.

As the wind slaps him in the face, and the raging waters begin to pull him down, Peter’s first response isn’t fear, but faith. His muscle memory kicked in and he instinctively cries out, “Lord save me.” And immediately Jesus is there. Despite his inability to ever get it right, Peter knows who Jesus is, and his natural response is to rely on him.
 
Faith might scare you. But it will always save you.
 
That’s what I think we need to remember as we walk out into Anamesa, as the presence of Christ’s love and purpose. Jesus isn’t calling us into perfection. He’s just asking us to be faithful. Like Peter, the more we practice our faith, by stepping out on that ledge of life, the more our faith becomes instinctive – our go to response.
 
Ernest Campbell wrote, “We must be willing to step out of the security of the boat and head into the troubled waters of the world to proclaim the love, mercy, and justice of God that we find in Jesus Christ.”

By following Jesus’ lead, we too can calm the storms of life and show the world how to love God, love others, and serve both. By taking this brave first step, we can move from having weak faith to possessing the kind of spiritual strength that Jesus says can: move mountains, heal the sick, cast out demons, forgive sins, and love those who hate us. 
 
So do not worry if your faith scares you or trips you up from time-to-time. Do not give up. Weather the storm. Keep moving building your spiritual strength. Keep doing the hard work of the Kingdom and bear the good fruit of your faithfulness. 
 
If you do, you too will discover the impossible is, in fact, very much possible.
 
 
 
Works Cited
A revisited adaptation of  Questioning Jesus: Why Do You Doubt? Where’s Your Faith? (June 2, 2019)
Bartlett, David, and ed. Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting On The Word; Year A, vol. 3. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.