Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s spend today focusing on appreciating God’s unconditional faithfulness.

Today’s scripture, 2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT) declares…
[13] If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

Consider…
I don’t know about you, but I am so grateful that God’s faithfulness to me doesn’t depend on my faithfulness to Him.

The scene that best depicts God’s unconditional faithfulness is Peter walking on water. Let’s read the story again in Matthew 14:28-32 (NLT). It says…
[28] Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” [29] “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. [30] But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. [31] Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” [32] When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

In this famous story we see…

• Peter recognized someone that he thought was Jesus. Let’s be honest, sometimes in the midst of our storms we’re not sure Jesus is standing in our midst.
• Peter had the faith and courage to ask Jesus to confirm it was Him that he was seeing. Do you have the faith and courage to ask God to let you know that He is real. I just heard Kirk Franklin and God’s Property singing…

Let me touch You and see if You are real
Even though, I know my heart Your hands can heal
But sometimes I get discouraged
And I need Your strength and shield, Jesus
Let me touch You and see if You are real

Sometimes to me You seem so far away
And I wonder how to make it through the day
But if I can touch the hem of Your garment
Your power, I know, You can heal, Jesus
Let me touch You and see if You are real

When I’m down
Let me touch You
When I’m lonely
Let me touch You
When I’m discouraged
Let me touch You
Like I never have before
Lord, I need You more and more, Jesus
Let me touch You and see if You are real

It’s okay, and encouraged, to confess your uncertainty about God’s presence in your dire situation.

• Next we read Jesus’ confirmation of His presence. This makes me think of the Lord’s promise in Jeremiah 29:13 that if we seek Him wholeheartedly, we will find Him.
• Now we see Peter literally step out on faith and walk towards Jesus. I suspect in your life that you too have exercised great faith in God.
• However, next we see Peter’s human frailty overwhelm his fantastic faith. The scripture says “when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.” There are times when we start out with strong faith, like at the initial terminal illness diagnosis, job termination, etc. only to be overwhelmed by the persistent reality of the dire situation. It’s understandable that sometimes we get weary in our waiting for God to deliver us from our storm.
• But this is where the story pivots and shows God’s faithfulness in the face of our faithlessness. You see when Peter began to sink under the weight of circumstances and fear, he cried out Lord help me. And rather than let Peter sink in his failing faith, Jesus faithfully helped him in helplessness. This makes me think of Romans 5:6 (NLT) which says…[6] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners… always remember God is faithful to help us regardless of how helpless our faithfulness makes us.
• Which brings us to the last piece that ties in to this week’s returning theme. When Jesus saved Peter, scripture says they returned to the boat and the wind stopped. That’s important because Peter hadn’t reached the other side that Jesus told him to go to yet. You see Jesus doesn’t just save us from dire situations, He also puts us back on track to accomplish what He told us to do in the first place.

I hope Peter’s water walking testimony serves as a constant reminder that God remains faithful independent of our faith. Furthermore, I hope that strengthens your faith to trust God more! I pray that it inspires you to sing the old hymn lyrics…

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

During my failure to be faithful to God with writing ‘Daily Blessings’, I am so grateful that God has remained faithful to still speak to and through me. God inspired me to never give up on Him because He never gives up on me. Regardless how unfaithful and unable I may be for God, it’s a blessing that He is always faithful and able to come through for me.

Trust God and His faithfulness in every faith test. And that He is faithful to save us and put us back on track when our faith fails.

Today’s Song is…
He’s Been Faithful

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)