Faith is trust in God and not figuring everything out. In our age, some people try to understand faith from a scientific perspective, but it does not work that way. Hebrews 11:1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.[1]
Jesus made an interesting comparison between faith and a child. Mark 10:15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.[2] Children have a simple faith because they can’t reason but simply trust. This simple trust is the faith the Lord wants us to have.
Peter Needed Simple Faith
Luke 5:4 When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” [3] Simon fished for a living, and trying to catch fish during the day would not have been wise. In addition, Simon was tired. What would he do? What would you do?
Luke 5:5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time, their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon, both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. [4]
What Jesus asked Simon to do at the time did not make much sense based on his fishing experience, but Peter obeyed Jesus. Throughout the Bible, blessings follow obedience, and Simon was blessed. Often, we don’t understand God’s plan for our lives. Sometimes, our reason prevents us from trusting the Lord with simple faith.
Taking Steps of Faith
Fully trusting the Lord and acting on faith is not easy. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, our trust in Him grows just like that of others with whom we have a close relationship. Others may let us down in life, but the Lord never will. Trusting the Lord to guide us is setting aside our desires for something better in the Lord’s eyes.
Simon never imagined a great catch of fish or being called as a disciple, and it all began with a simple faith. Are we much different than Simon? Somehow, we think we can direct our path only to find ourselves in a disappointing life. The most fulfilling life is when we let go of our selfish desires and faithfully follow the Lord daily.
As we follow the Lord in child-like faith, He leads us in ways we would never think of and gives us experiences we never thought possible. Take the Lord’s hand today and let Him lead you like a child holding on to the hand of a loving parent.
To learn how faith is trust in God, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/calling-of-the-fishermen
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
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