Are Ye of Little Faith?

About a month ago, we had a large pine tree cut and removed from our front yard.  This was a difficult decision, as we had prayed for a home on property with mature trees.   That was definitely a mature tree!  Over the months that we enjoyed it, I marveled over how its shadow moved across the front yard throughout the day.  While the tree was visibly dying and making a mess by dropping bark, straw, dripping sap, I didn’t want to cut it down.  Finally, after many prayers, it had to go.  I asked the Lord to forgive me if that was not the right decision.  The day after the tree was gone, I looked out the window to my front yard and there was a bold shadow - an obvious darkening at 1:00 in the afternoon.  A tingle traveled down my spine as the Lord spoke to my heart. ​

Ye of little faith.  Do you really think I need a tree to provide a shadow?  Look, the tree is gone, but there is a shadow.  Quit your obsessing and trust in me.  ​

In Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus and His disciples are in a boat when a storm begins to stir.  Jesus is sleeping, but the disciples are being tormented by the wind and rain.  In desperation, they wake Him saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”  26He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  27The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Earlier in this chapter, we read about several other miracles Jesus performed.  He heals a man with Leprosy.  They saw the centurion’s servant healed of paralysis by Jesus merely speaking that he should be healed.  We read about Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law of fever.  Then when the storm arises, they are afraid.  Is this not how we operate today?  We know God, we know His love, we know His power.  We know He is in control of all Creation, but when there is a situation, we resort to fear.   

In what ways might you be suffering from less than enough faith?  Are you in a financial bind and need His guidance to make ends meet?  Are you in a relationship that needs to be mended in a way that only He can?  Are you grieving the loss of a loved one and don’t think you will ever feel whole again?  Are you praying for the salvation of a loved one, but he/she continues to live a lifestyle that dishonors God?  Are you waiting for a prayer to be answered and don’t see any resolution?

Have faith.  He can and He will.  Do your part - be obedient.  Faith without works is dead.  Do what you are supposed to do.  Yes, you must pray, but maybe you also should send a text or an email.  Maybe you must submit to an earthly authority.  Do your part and He will take care of the rest.  There is no problem too big or too small for Him.  Have faith.  Amen. 

~Colossians 1:15-20
15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

​Thank you for reading!  
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
​Kim