Help me to keep believing...

Have you and I ever fallen into unbelief and skepticism in face to great miracles? Check out this story:

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,

Jesus made his disciples get into the boat

and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,

while he dismissed the crowd.

And when he had taken leave of them,

he went off to the mountain to pray.

When it was evening,

the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.

Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,

for the wind was against them.

About the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them walking on the sea.

He meant to pass by them.

But when they saw him walking on the sea,

they thought it was a ghost and cried out.

They had all seen him and were terrified.

But at once he spoke with them,

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”

He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.

They were completely astounded.

Then the text says this:

They had not understood the incident of the loaves.

On the contrary, their hearts were hardened. – Mark 6:45-52.

Wait, did these followers of Jesus not just experience two amazing miracles: the feeding of thousands of people and Jesus walking on the water and calming the storm? What is going on here? Why would you fail to understand that Jesus was who he said he was. In fact, the opposite happens; they are more confirmed in their denial and lack of faith.

It is it any different today? People pray for a miracle and receive it. Do they become more convinced in their faith? No, they continue to complain about what else is going wrong in their lives. Remember 9/11? The churches were filled the following Sunday. Attendance dropped back to pre-9/11 rates in about 3 weeks.

Why is so hard to believe and keep believing?

Ronald Friesen © 2016