Are there times you feel unprepared? Do you sometimes feel weak? Have you experienced feeling as though you lack knowledge or wisdom? Does it seem as though your faith is being tested and is woefully lacking?
We all go through times when we feel as though we are drowning or being overwhelmed by circumstances. Our minds race to figure out how to survive. Our anxiety reaches high levels. We strive harder and harder to catch up. We forget who we belong to.
Trials and tests come along. It often seems when they hit, several hit at the same time. We are blindsided by an unexpected failure. A manager tells us a deadline has been moved up. Our spouse walks out the door. There is a death in the family. The car breaks down and needs repairs. The anxiety, fear, and stress can land us in the hospital.
If we remember we belong to God, it is only to cry out to Him for help. We may admit He is in control, but we wonder if that is true in the back of our minds. We make statements like, “I know You are in control, but…” Our faith is being tested.
I remember a time when I was in a very trying situation. I had sold my house and was due to sign the closing documents the next day. The moving truck had picked up nearly all my belongings. However, there were some things I was not going to move, or I was moving myself. It was getting late in the day, and I still had too much left to do. I cried out. The answer I got? “Do the next task, then do the next.” You know what? It all got done and I got some sleep that night. I can’t tell you how. As far as I know, God slowed down time to allow me to get done.
As we see in today’s passage, we are not alone. The apostles cried out. They were faced with new instruction from Jesus that appeared to be unachievable from a human perspective. They believed Jesus would not tell them to do something they couldn’t achieve but saw no way to obey successfully.
Jesus’ response was simply have faith. Even a small amount of faith can accomplish big tasks. Not because we suddenly become superhuman, but because God steps into the equation. Rather than relying on ourselves, we rely on God. I believe Jesus was also telling them, “You have enough faith, put it to work.”
I pray we all put our faith to work. I pray we remember who we belong to. I pray each one of us exercises our faith and calls God to step into the situation. Trust God. Exercise your faith. Rely on God. Call Him into your situation. Cry out for His help.
Luke 17:5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”
Marty Pressey 