Rev. Chism's Weekly Message

Do you trust me, [insert a name]?

This is a question you have heard before in your life. Many have probably asked you this question. And this is a question you have presented to people you know. It feels good when people trust you.

Marriages built on a high level of trust just work better. In your work environment trust is a key component when working on a team or a manager believing in you. At church if the congregation trusts the leadership great things can happen. For us Christians great trust in God is a key component of our faith journey.

Sometimes trust is crushed. Maybe this is created when expectations for another person that don't match reality. Partners in marriage can lose trust due to many things. And when the bad times happen our trust in God can be challenged.

There's this story in the Matthew 14:22-33 of Jesus walking on water. Jesus and the disciples had just crossed a lake (most likely the Sea of Galilee) so Jesus could go rest from the crowds. He had retreated to a mountain and the disciples stayed in the boat. Waves began to batter the boat and it was far from shore. As they battled the wind in the choppy water they saw Jesus walking toward them. They thought he was a ghost and Jesus says to them, "Take heart, it is I;" do not be afraid."

Peter responds to Jesus and says if commanded he too would walk on water. He did but got scared and began to sink. Peter cries to be saved and Jesus reaches into the water and pulls him out. He says to Peter, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

In the midst of the miracle there is the story of trust. Peter did as the Lord commanded only to have fear. He did trust even though his walking didn't last long. There was no failure because he tried. The disciples would begin to understand that Jesus was the Son of God. This was a big turning point in their relationship with the Messiah. They began to trust Jesus more and more.

I hope as you have followed Jesus you have grown in your trust of God. Yeah, sometimes we sink on our journey but it is a part of life. Peter would sink a few more times walking with Jesus. Simply keep reading in all the gospels and you will be reminded of his sinks. But he kept walking on the "living water" that Jesus gives all people. Trust doesn't mean we have doubts. We just know we are on a journey of faith.

A fellow pastor was sharing with me a story of one of his church members. The church member was a major contributor to church leadership. If the pastor and other leaders needed something they could always seek his help. He was a pillar in their mission.

That's why the pastor was enamored to hear the life story of his and fellow servant. Life was always rosy for this guy. He lost a job due to dishonesty he committed. A wife he adored almost left him because of blunders he continually made. His life was once in shambles. No one trusted him.

He was able to overcome this with counsel and therapy and put his life back together. As for others trusting him he shared with others trusting him was a day to day process. He learned that trusting God in the journey was pivotal to rebuilding trust and his healing. As he said to the group he was sharing his story, "I'm not sinking anymore."

He asked my friend and pastor after sharing, "Do you still trust me?" The response? "I trust you more than ever. God has done great things through you!" Relieved, the man rejoiced that he was trusted. It feels great to be trusted after failure.

If you feel like your sinking call out to God. Keep on keeping on and keep on walking! God is sink proof. Walk on that living water!

Stay Safe,

Rev. Baxter