Faith Over Fear

revised April 7, 2018

The Lord tested Peter’s faith in the face of fear in Matthew 14:

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the 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?”     

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”             

        Matthew 14:28-33

I can relate to Peter. In December I had blind faith to trust God to save our home. We had a huge debt to be paid to be current on our mortgage. Like Peter, my faith and trust were unwavering. I knew God could do it. I believed. So did Peter. His belief was enough to get him out of the boat, but would he be able to walk on water? My faith was big enough to trust God for $11,800, (get out of the boat), but was it enough to say yes to this?

In the midst of my miracle, literally God sparing our home, God asked something else of me. He wanted our family to host a foreign exchange student. This is when, like Peter, I started sinking. I could not imagine there was room in my heart or my crowded home for another person. My very first reaction was to say no. I was tempted to take my eyes off my Savior because I was distracted by my circumstances.

God dealt with my heart right away by reminding me that He was providing for my every need. Also, that He had already been preparing me for the addition of Ian when he  asked me to do four things:

1. PURGE what we didn’t need; 2. PACK up what we weren’t using; 3. PREPARE for what He was doing in our life; 4. PRAY without ceasing! 

I did those four things over the course of a few days and when the time came we had plenty of room for Ian. I had no excuses. We said yes, and I wasn't prepared for what happened next. Ian  quickly bonded with our family.

One day I asked him why he wanted to come to America and live with a big family and he replied, “Because big families have so much love and kindness.” I asked him if he felt love and kindness here and he said, “Oh, yes!”

WOW. (tears)

We do have a lot of love in this family of nine. And I can see now that we needed Ian as much as he needed us. Through Ian the Lord has shown our family the value of loving all people. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s essential if we want to please God.

I am so grateful Jesus keeps testing me in an effort to show me his grace. Sometimes I need blind faith to get out of the boat, sometimes I need bold faith to get back in when I'm sinking.  Every time, I need wisdom to obey.

Because He lives,

Rhonda

www.awalkwithgod.net

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Ian my Korean son.

The day Ian came to live with us.