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Abstract

pproach Jesus by walking on water.</p><blockquote id="8807"><p>“Come,” he said.</p></blockquote><blockquote id="d513"><p>Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”</p></blockquote><blockquote id="8986"><p>Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” — Matthew 14:29–31, NIV</p></blockquote><p id="d179">When this passage is quoted in sermons, it is usually to draw attention to how little faith Peter had in this moment.</p><p id="3d36">But the man was walking on water! Can we have a round of applause for Peter for even <i>trying</i> to attempt the impossible?</p><p id="e8d0">Granted, his faith is flawed. But even as Peter’s trust wavers, Jesus <i>still</i> reaches out His hand and catches him. He didn’t have to make it all the way across a body of water to be touched by Jesus.</p><p id="a13a"><b>Jesus comes to him and meets him where he’s at. </b>We need to follow His example and listen to others when they express their doubts and fears to us.</p><div id="d416" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-i-dont-speak-christianese-5f254256ccc2"> <div> <div> <h2>Why I Don’t Speak Christianese</h2> <div><h3>Don’t heap Christian clichés on a person baring their soul to you. Try listening instead.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*Z6kYZHKSV2-YwGlDpm7vSw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="525b"><b>Laddering Up Our Faith</b></p><p id="75a3">I recently ca

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me across this <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZhrIXeOzBu/">Instagram post</a> from incredible and inspiring author Hannah Brencher. She speaks about the importance of getting to the next rung of the ladder of faith:</p><blockquote id="53d0"><p>“I would simply tell God that I was stuck in the pit and I needed him to show me the next rung on the ladder…just the next rung so I could begin to climb out.”</p></blockquote><p id="d314">A ladder is a beautiful metaphor for our faith. Climbing a ladder is a journey, and we are facing a wall when we climb. The view when you’re on the way up is not inspiring — it’s vapid, dull, and predictable, which is why so many of us feel stuck.</p><p id="b456">But that mustard seed faith that Jesus speaks of in the book of Matthew is also ladder rung faith. It isn’t a fully-formed fountain of knowledge to all of life’s questions. Rather, God does His best work in a journey of progression.</p><p id="46bf">David. Joshua. Esther. Ruth. Moses. And our water-bender, Peter.</p><p id="3dac">They’re all Biblical heroes who went on journeys. They had that small ounce of faith and kept looking for God to guide them to the next ladder rung, and before they knew it, they made it to the top.</p><p id="d1a1">What does the next ladder rung of your faith look like for you? Ask God to draw you one step closer to Him today.</p><figure id="c03e"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*p5S0YeeKCenhfXMw-cx8WA.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="87cd"><a href="https://devotableapp.com/"><b>Devotable</b></a> is a brand spreading the word of God to everyone around the world. If you like what we’re doing, please connect with us. Comment, like, or share and help us move God’s message across the globe. Join our mailing list for daily inspiration in your inbox.</p></article></body>

Faith

The Next Ladder Rung of Faith

Challenge yourself to move one step closer to God today.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew ‭17:20,‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For people who base their entire belief system around Jesus dying for our sins, Christians sure place a lot of pressure on themselves to be perfect.

People of the world view us as strict rule-followers who police the actions of others. While abiding by God’s law is important and necessary, this damaging perception has hurt believers and unbelievers alike.

I know when my faith wasn’t at its strongest, I felt like something was wrong with me. I thought doubting made me a bad Christian. For who was I to dare to falter in the belief that God had almighty purpose and plan for my life? Who was I to ask questions about the church’s beliefs, when the institution had been around for thousands of years?

Your Doubts are Valid

But doubting is normal, and even Jesus’ disciples doubted His goodness. Peter faltered when he tried to approach Jesus by walking on water.

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” — Matthew 14:29–31, NIV

When this passage is quoted in sermons, it is usually to draw attention to how little faith Peter had in this moment.

But the man was walking on water! Can we have a round of applause for Peter for even trying to attempt the impossible?

Granted, his faith is flawed. But even as Peter’s trust wavers, Jesus still reaches out His hand and catches him. He didn’t have to make it all the way across a body of water to be touched by Jesus.

Jesus comes to him and meets him where he’s at. We need to follow His example and listen to others when they express their doubts and fears to us.

Why I Don’t Speak Christianese

Don’t heap Christian clichés on a person baring their soul to you. Try listening instead.

medium.com

Laddering Up Our Faith

I recently came across this Instagram post from incredible and inspiring author Hannah Brencher. She speaks about the importance of getting to the next rung of the ladder of faith:

“I would simply tell God that I was stuck in the pit and I needed him to show me the next rung on the ladder…just the next rung so I could begin to climb out.”

A ladder is a beautiful metaphor for our faith. Climbing a ladder is a journey, and we are facing a wall when we climb. The view when you’re on the way up is not inspiring — it’s vapid, dull, and predictable, which is why so many of us feel stuck.

But that mustard seed faith that Jesus speaks of in the book of Matthew is also ladder rung faith. It isn’t a fully-formed fountain of knowledge to all of life’s questions. Rather, God does His best work in a journey of progression.

David. Joshua. Esther. Ruth. Moses. And our water-bender, Peter.

They’re all Biblical heroes who went on journeys. They had that small ounce of faith and kept looking for God to guide them to the next ladder rung, and before they knew it, they made it to the top.

What does the next ladder rung of your faith look like for you? Ask God to draw you one step closer to Him today.

Devotable is a brand spreading the word of God to everyone around the world. If you like what we’re doing, please connect with us. Comment, like, or share and help us move God’s message across the globe. Join our mailing list for daily inspiration in your inbox.