The strength of your faith is not the big deal you might think it is. Jesus made it clear that even the most minuscule amount of faith (think mustard seed) is enough to move mountains.

The issue is not the quantity or quality of your faith. The issue is the object of your faith.

For instance, if you are at sea in a typhoon, the issue is not the quality/quantity of your faith in your boat, but the object of your faith. If you’ve placed your faith in a rubber dinghy, premium-deluxe faith isn’t going to make the slightest difference. You’re history. But if you’ve placed your faith in a large, seasoned vessel that has weathered many a storm, the most anaemic faith is good enough.

When you stepped onto that ship, you placed your faith in it. It doesn’t matter if you fretted for days before boarding and have been worried sick since the day you left port. If you’ve placed your faith in a trustworthy vessel, you will be safe. Because your safety depends on the ship, not on your faith.

And it makes no difference if you had a faith so weak that you hardly got on the boat. The fact is, you had enough faith to get on and that’s the issue. The object of your faith is either trustworthy and safe or it is not.

When you’re struggling with life or your relationship with God, remember that your safety and stability does not depend on your faith. It depends on the object of your faith. If you’re on board with God, you are as safe as God is trustworthy. That means you don’t have to spend your days looking inside yourself, cross-examining yourself, measuring and testing your faith from every angle. Of course you can choose to do so, but it doesn’t make you any more or less safe. Instead, you can fasten yourself to the mast and shout into the storm “How great! How great is our God!”

He is great!

Grace to you,

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About Jason Harris

Dr Jason Harris is a writer, pastor, and academic. He has authored multiple books, articles, and papers including his book Theological Meditations on the Gospel. Jason has a PhD from James Cook University as well as degrees in theology, music, accounting, and research. Jason has lived in Cairns, Australia since 2007 and serves as pastor at CrossPoint Church. You can contact Jason at jason@jasonharris.com.au.

4 Comments

  1. Jeremy 21 August, 2012 at 7:38 am

    Good thoughts. Thank you

  2. D 21 August, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    Love the picture of hanging onto the mast, wind and rain blowing and shouting into the storm “How great is our God!”. I’ll hold onto that one … Praise God for the storms and the fine days. I need them all.

  3. Sarah 23 August, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    When you stepped onto that ship, you placed your faith in it. It doesn’t matter if you fretted for days before boarding and have been worried sick since the day you left port. If you’ve placed your faith in a trustworthy object, you will be safe. Because your safety depends on the ship, not on your faith.

    Awesome illustration for a stabilising truth. Thank you.

  4. Elizabeth 23 August, 2012 at 5:47 pm

    “The issue is not the quantity or quality of your faith.
    The issue is the object of your faith”.

    Amen.

    It’s all about Jesus.

    Always has been.

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