What happens when we fail to trust God? Jesus’ words in John 14:1 give us the answer. If the disciples trusted in God and placed their faith in Jesus, their hearts would not be troubled. But if they refused to trust Him, their hearts would be troubled. How often are our hearts troubled because we are disobedient to this repeated command to trust in the Lord? How often do our lives get off track because we are not trusting in Jesus? The book of Matthew gives us several examples.
First, when we fail to trust in the Lord, we struggle with worry. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His disciples not to worry about the necessities of life—food, water, and clothing. After reminding them of God’s care for His creation, Jesus says in verse 30, “O you of little faith.” Their worry was ultimately connected to a lack of faith. They were concerned about where the necessities of life would come from, but they were forgetting who was providing for them. How often do we find ourselves in the same place? While not all anxiety stems from a lack of faith, how often are our lives plagued by worry because we are not trusting in God? Whenever we do not trust in God, we will suffer from worry.
Second, when we fail to trust in the Lord, we struggle with fear. In Matthew 8, Jesus and His disciples are caught in a terrible storm. The wind is strong, the waves are overwhelming the boat, and the disciples are convinced they are going to die. Jesus, however, is asleep. They wake Him and cry out for help. Before calming the storm, Jesus asks them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matt. 8:26). The disciples’ fear was rooted in a lack of faith. They were surrounded by a storm, but they were also in the presence of the One who had power over the storm. How often are we fearful in the middle of life’s storms because we are not trusting the One who can calm them?
Third, when we fail to trust in the Lord, we struggle with doubt. Matthew 14 gives us another powerful example. Peter steps out of the boat and actually walks on water toward Jesus. As long as Peter keeps his eyes on Jesus, he is doing the impossible. But then Peter looks at the wind and waves. His confidence disappears, and he begins to sink. Jesus reaches out His hand and says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:31). Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began looking at the storm around him. His confidence melted into doubt. It only takes a moment to take our eyes off Jesus. How often do we find ourselves sinking in life because our hearts are filled with doubt? Whenever we do not trust in God, we will suffer from doubt.
Fourth, when we fail to trust in the Lord, we struggle with a lack of perception. In Matthew 16, the disciples misunderstand something Jesus says about leaven. They think He is talking about literal bread, but Jesus is actually warning them about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Why could they not understand what Jesus meant? Jesus tells them, “O you of little faith” (Matt. 16:8). Their lack of faith affected their ability to perceive what Jesus was teaching. They had witnessed His power, yet they struggled to understand what He was saying because they were not fully trusting Him. Sometimes we may not understand why certain things happen in our lives. But how often do we struggle to perceive what Scripture says or what God is doing because we are lacking faith?
Fifth, when we fail to trust in the Lord, we struggle with incapability. Finally, in Matthew 17, the disciples encounter a demon-possessed child whom they are unable to heal. They had previously been given the ability to cast out demons, yet now they are incapable. When they ask Jesus why, He points them to their lack of faith. In verse 20, He says that faith like a mustard seed could accomplish great things. Their lack of faith affected not only what they thought but also what they were able to do. What are we incapable of doing because we are not placing our trust in God?
Worry. Fear. Doubt. A lack of perception. Incapability. Five different struggles, but the same underlying problem: “O you of little faith.” Instead of being trapped in worry, fear, doubt, a lack of perception, and incapability, let us trust in God. He is worthy of our trust. He is faithful. He will not leave us or forsake us.
Tyler Alverson
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