Day 6: Beliefs
Singing My Way Through Write 28 Days
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“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” Romans 10:17 (NLT)
I Believe, But…
“Thou has said to walk on water
But I stumble in the sand
Oh, to run and not grow weary
Jesus come and hold my hand
For I believe, yes I believe
Please help my unbelief
For I believe, yes I believe
Oh, Lord
Please help my unbelief”
~Jeff Berry Band~
There are situations in the Bible that I can’t or don’t want to picture myself in. Ones like offering my long awaited, only child as a sacrifice to God or stepping unwavering into a fiery furnace. However, some moments captured by the writers of the Word seem to be stories taken from my own life.
This is a familiar encounter in which Peter and I have much in common:
“Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Yes, come,’ Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me:’”
Matthew 14:28-31 (NLT)
And then, there’s the concerned father:
“‘How long has this been happening?’ Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, ‘Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.’ ‘What do you mean, If I can?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’ The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’”
Mark 9:21-24 (NLT)
Peter and the boy’s father knew just what to do in their situations. They went to Jesus. I do the same but unfortunately, I also share their belief problem. Way too often I, like Peter, take my eyes off of Jesus and focus instead on my circumstances and feelings, losing my footing as my faith takes a plunge. Or, when life throws me here and there I ask Jesus for help knowing He’s the only One who can, and yet find myself wondering if there really is anything He can do.
“You have so little faith. Why do you doubt me? What do you mean, if I can?”
And I cry out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
I wish those words didn’t live in me anymore and I’m not sure how long it will take until they don’t. But this I do know, we have to keep “climbing over the side of the boat” to get to Jesus. Look, He doesn’t leave Peter drowning in his doubt, rather, He reaches out for him. And He doesn’t quit on the questioning father, but heals his son instead. The same is true for you and me. When we “stumble in the sand” rather than walk on water, we can take all our doubts, questions, and yes even our unbeliefs to Jesus. He didn’t give up on them, the other disciples, “Doubting” Thomas, or any of those He encountered that needed help overcoming their unbelief. And the Good News is, He won’t give up on us, either.
“Promise me Thou won’t forsake me
For my life depends on Thee
Engrave it on my heart reminding
That Your truth has set me free
Thou art great and full of light
That no eye can yet unreel
Please give to me only through your might
A heart that longs to kneel
For I believe, yes I believe
Please help my unbelief
For I believe, yes I believe
Oh, Lord
Please help my unbelief
~Jeff Berry Band~
Cindy, this>”keep climbing over the side of the boat” is so true. And indeed we do need to keep doing so. I really appreciate your words today dear friend.
Visiting today from #Write28Days.
For me, it’s too easy to be distracted by the things in my life that end up taking my focus of Jesus and what truly matters – this is when anxiety tends to overwhelm me. There are some days when I have so little faith and I feel ashamed for I know Jesus can do anything yet I still allow doubts to fill me. Thank you for sharing!
“I do believe, help my unbelief!” is continually on my lips! Thank you for this post. It is nice to know I am not alone in this. 🙂
If we’re honest, we all struggle in that space between “yes I believe!” and “help me past my unbelief!” from time to time. So glad God is gracious and patient with me when I am slow to climb out of the boat or go all weak from fear when I look at the waves.
Your faith is strong, but your steps are uneven. I am the same way. I know that I know, but my emotions cause my steps to falter. A friend sent a quote a couple days ago. “Don’t limit your prayers because you don’t think you’re deserviny.” You don’t pray because of who you are; you pray because of who he is.” You can rewrite that in a number of ways.