In this portion you see My Son performing wonders: healing the sick, feeding the hungry, walking upon the waters. But what of the disciples, what do you see them doing and saying? Do you not see them when they speak or act out of their own initiative, speaking and acting with little faith?

For when My Son had healed many in the crowd and the evening was approaching, the word of the disciples was, “Send them away to get themselves some food”.

And in response, what was the word of My Son? “Bring what you have to Me”.

And in the case of His walking on the water, what was the word of the disciples? In terror they cried out, “It is a ghost!” But what was the word of My Son? “Take courage, it is I, don’t be afraid!” And what was the word of Peter? “If it is You, tell me to come to You on the water!” And what was the word of My Son? “Come!” And when Peter took his eyes off of My Son and saw the wind whipping up the waves and began to sink, his words were, “Lord save me!” And when My Son caught him and lifted him up, His words were, “You of little faith, why did you doubt”? And the final words of the disciples as they worshipped were, “Truly, You are the Son of God!” Now do you not see, as you compare the words of the disciples with the words of My Son, that those of the former are mainly words of doubt and unbelief? Yes, it is true that in the case of Peter there was some faith as long as his words and his perspective were focused upon My Son. But you see how quickly the circumstances around him drew him away from his focus upon My Son, so that in every case you see that in the disciples’ words, they reflect doubt and unbelief, even though they have observed My Son doing wondrous things and speaking wondrous words. But in contrast, see how the words of My Son challenge them to believe and to exercise faith by putting it into specific action. But in each case, you see that ultimately it is My Son who has to step in and provide what is necessary to meet the need in each situation. As He does, both by His words that encourage faith and His actions that meet the need, you see that it finally brings the disciples into a place of realization as to who He really is, and upon that recognition, it brings them into a place of worship. My son and My daughter, the process by which I bring you into that same place of focus upon and recognition of My Son and of worship, is it not also by your hearing and obeying His Word which comes to you even in the midst of your weakness, your doubt and unbelief? And also by recognizing that He is sufficient to meet every need, even though you may feel completely insufficient. And even as it was for the disciples in the case of the loaves and the fishes, if you will bring what you have to Him, will you not also see that He will make it more than sufficient and meet the need even as He did for the disciples?

Tags: Faith, Focus Jesus, God Confident, Unbelief

Sometimes when you pass through difficult circumstances, it may seem to you that they are occurring because I am angry and judging. It may seem that I have turned My mercy and My love away from you. You see here that My servant David was struggling with this perception. Unlike you, he did not have the greater light of understanding My purposes as wrought out in the life of My Son, and it seemed to him that unless I came to deliver him that he would die. In this instance it was due to the opposition and the attack of enemies, and the anguish that he felt affected his whole being. Now you know that he was a man of faith, and yet as you see here, he could experience great struggles of soul in the face of threatening circumstances. But what I especially want you to see is that in the midst of all his struggles, he clung to Me as the source of his deliverance. He looked to My mercy, to My unfailing love, and in the end he broke through to the place of confidence, of resolute faith. But notice that when he speaks of his enemies being overcome, it is in the future tense. They had not yet been overcome, but he was certain that they would be. On what basis was it that he could express such confidence? On what basis could he declare that I had heard his cry for mercy and accepted his prayer? Was it not because in the midst of all those threatening and difficult circumstances his faith had grabbed hold of who I am, of My mercy and My unfailing love? When this happens, one does not need to have the actual manifestation of the answer to his prayer in order to come into peace and confidence regarding the outcome of his circumstances. If David experienced such confidence, because in his heart he grabbed hold by faith of who I am, can you not also do this? Is it not given to you even more than it was given to David, because the spirit of My Son dwells within you and the knowledge of His triumph is your possession? Therefore, My son and My daughter, take strong encouragement that even though you may go through difficult and threatening circumstances, even as did My servant David, and even though there will be times of great soul struggle and anguish, yet have I not granted to you the gift of faith and of confidence that in all of these things you are more than conquerors through My Son who loved you and gave Himself up for you. He was tempted and tested in every way that you are, and yet triumphed in all of the tests, and did this on your behalf so that no matter how severe your testing, you may share in His triumph?

Tags: Faith, God Confident, Testing, Trial Trust