Fear Vs. Faith

Have you ever been caught up in the midst of some trouble you were not expecting and didn’t know how to get yourself out? Have you ever been toiling with a particular situation or circumstance and just needed peace? If you have experienced anything like either question above my final question for you is, did you walk in faith or in fear? In Matthew 8:5-10, Jesus was visiting Capernaum when a Centurion officer approached. The officer told Jesus that one of his faithful servants was lying at his home dying, paralyzed and tormented. Can you imagine this well respected wealthy man, caring so much for his servant that he sets out seeking the help of someone he had never met? That sounds like faith to me. I believe he could have hired the best doctors in the land, and paid endless amounts of money to have them work on his servant, but he was not walking in his own knowledge or power, he was walking in faith. He sought out Jesus. When he told Jesus of his plight, Jesus quickly offered to go to his house and heal his servant. In verses 8 the Centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” Not only did he have the faith to seek out a stranger, but he had the faith to take that stranger at His word and believe for a miracle. Let us keep this story in mind when unexpected things come our way. When sickness grips your body out of nowhere and even the doctors scratch their heads. When your car decides to go “ka-put” and your money in the bank is “funny.” Stop a moment and ask yourself… “Am I going to react/walk in fear or in faith?” What are the benefits of walking in faith you might ask? Let’s look at the end of the Centurion’s story. Verses 10 & 13 say, 10When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. I don’t know about you but I could use a same hour blessing! So the next time calamity comes our way, let’s walk in faith and not fear believing God for a same hour blessing in the mist of it all! Think about it!