The Faith We Can’t

Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Children’s Sermon

I have a bunch of questions for you guys, because I want to know a little bit more about you.

Here’s what I want to do. I’m going to ask you all some questions about whether or not you can do an activity. I might ask if you can play an instrument, or wiggle your ears.

But I don’t want you to answer with your words, I want you to answer just by raising your hand if you can do something that I list.

And we’re not trying to compare ourselves to others — none of us will be able to do all of these. I just want to get to know you better. Okay?

So are you going to answer with your words? No! How are you going to answer? With your hands.

Let’s start. And congregation, you guys can play along, too.

Raise your hand if you can color with crayons.

Raise your hand if you can touch your toes.

Raise your hand if you can brush your teeth.

Raise your hand if you can wink.

Raise your hand if you can ride a bicycle.

Raise your hand if you can say your ABCs.

Raise your hand if you can play the pipe organ.

Raise your hand if you can lick your elbow.

Raise your hand if you have memorized every single verse in the Bible.

So did anyone here say they could do all those things?

No?

Did you notice that even I haven’t memorized every single verse in the Bible?

Well today, we’re reading a story from the Bible about a time that Jesus’ disciple Peter couldn’t quite do everything perfectly.

Peter is on a boat with Jesus’ other disciples. And pretty quickly, the winds start blowing, and the winds start getting really big, and this boat is in a really scary situation for hours and hours and hours.

But then, while Peter and the other disciples are scared in this boat, they see something on the sea. It’s someone walking toward them! Someone is walking on the water! It’s Jesus!

Peter is scared, because he doesn’t realize it’s Jesus. So he says “Jesus, if it’s really you, tell me to get out and walk to you on the water.”

So Jesus says, “Peter, come out and walk to me.” And Peter does.

But as Peter is walking on water, the winds are blowing really strong, and he gets really worried, and starts sinking in the water.

He couldn’t seem to be as brave as he wanted to. He didn’t have as much faith as he wanted. And he couldn’t seem to get it all right.

But it’s then, as he’s sinking, that he feels a hand reach out and grab him. It’s Jesus!

Remember how we couldn’t do everything I listed? Remember how Peter didn’t have as much faith as he wanted? Well, sometimes, our faith is like that too. Sometimes, even though we try really, really hard to trust in God, and live like Jesus wants us to live, we just can’t seem to do it. It’s not because we don’t love God, but sometimes, we just can’t seem to get ourselves to have big, strong faith.

But even though we can’t always do everything, and we sometimes don’t trust God, today’s Bible story reminds us that Jesus has our back. Like Peter, even when we struggle to trust in God, God holds onto us, and loves us, and helps us. God cares about us, and helps us, even when we struggle to have faith.

Let’s pray.

Dear Jesus,

We have hard times in life.
When we struggle,
We don’t always have faith.
But even then,
You still hold onto us.
Thank you for helping us through storms of life.

Amen.