Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.”  Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and from that moment, the boy was healed.

There were several times in Scripture when Jesus was upset with the disciples and rebuked them for not trusting in his sovereignty. In this particular situation, Jesus had gone up on the mount of transfiguration. In his absence a man brought his son who was possessed by a demon which caused him to have life threatening seizures to them to be healed. They were unable to do it. When Jesus returned, the man brought his son to him and asked Jesus to heal him as his disciples had been unable to do so. This is where our Scripture passage comes in. Jesus was upset with them because they had been unable to rebuke the demon and heal the boy.

Later in private the disciples asked Jesus why they had not been able to remove the demon from the boy and he replied to them, because of their lack of faith. He went on to tell them that if they had faith the size of a mustard seed, they could move mountains.

So, I ask you today are you someone who has a little faith or a lot of faith? A mustard seed is tiny, tiny. It’s about the size of a flea. Yet, Jesus is saying that if we have a tiny amount of faith, we can move mountains. I think He said this because having a little faith is like being a little pregnant. Faith is a condition. We either have it or we don’t.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us we cannot please God if we have no faith. From our Scripture passage, we can see that Jesus is not pleased with His disciples. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us we are saved by God’s grace through faith. 1 Corinthians 16:13 tells us to be watchful, stand strong in the faith, act like men and be strong. James 1:6 tells us that the one who doubts is like a wave on the sea being driven and tossed about by the wind.

Do a faith check? Ask yourself, do you trust in the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5)? Do you believe in the things you cannot see (Hebrews 11:1)? If you answered yes to these questions, then does your behavior indicate that you answered truthfully?

Do you behave like a ship sailing on calm waters, peacefully gliding along? Or are you more like a roller coaster, up and down continually? I lived many years like a roller coaster. I was up when all was well and down when things didn’t go my way. That became very tiring. God helped me with my faith by bringing me through some very difficult situations. The worse things got, the more I had to trust in Him. The more the situation seemed to be impossible, the more I had to believe that He would work it all out for my good, if I just kept my course and did what he called me to do (Romans 8:28).

Our pastor often tells us that we may be the only Bible people ever read. What do those around you read? Is it a horror story? Is it an edge of your seat thriller? Or is it a love story that shows your love for God and others? Does your faithfulness show even when your world seems to be crumbling around you? Do you remain calm in the storm?

When I worked in law enforcement, I didn’t have the luxury of freaking out when the going got tough. This was what we trained for. This was why we took the job. This was not the time to panic and be afraid. Over and over in the Bible we are told, “Do not be discouraged, do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.” As Christians we are called to stand firm in the faith. We are called to lead others to Christ. We cannot do this if we are terrified of the what ifs in life.

My friend if you have grown tired of living on the roller coaster and would like to do some smooth sailing then do what we are told to do in Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight.

If we truly trust in God, we have nothing to fear. Trials are simply opportunities for growth. I have a dear friend who says when she asks her husband how his day went, he often said that it was filled with opportunities. Trust in God and grow strong in Him today.

Have a great day!