1.15.22 - In Search of Confidence, Part 1: Load Bearing (Kenny Camacho)
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 14:22-33; also Matthew 8:23-27 & 4:18-20
“We all want certainty in our lives, especially in times like these, when answers and clarity feel so hard to come by. But we also need to consider what it means for our God to have created a world where certainty is so rare, where so much is unknown, where our perceptions are so limited, and–most importantly–where the desire for certainty so often leads us to put all of our trust in ourselves. What if what we are really meant to chase isn’t certainty but confidence? The problem isn’t that we don’t need saving. The problem is that we prefer to try and save ourselves. And yet, the story of Scripture, the revelation of God, and the experiences we have with the Holy Spirit teach us over and over again that God is capable and that God is trustworthy.”
REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What are some of the uncertainties you are struggling with right now? They don’t have to be related to your faith!
How would you summarize the difference between certainty and confidence? Why is this difference important, particularly when it comes to our relationship with God or our hope in Jesus?
One of the big ideas this week is that we can’t pause our lives, get all the answers, and then decide what’s best to do–instead, we are always placing our confidence somewhere, whether we mean to or not. Does this make sense to you? Can you think of a time in your life that relates?
In the story in Matthew 14, Peter often gets a lot of grief for not having enough faith. However, Kenny argued this week that we get Peter wrong: not only does he have the courage to step out of the boat, but even when he is sinking, he cries out to Jesus for help instead of calling his friends or trying to swim back. How does Peter’s story relate to this discussion of certainty and confidence?
Kenny said, “What if a new way, a better way, to think about your journey with faith is as a series of opportunities to take little steps of faith, little exercises in trust, towards real confidence in God actually being who He says He is?” Have you ever thought of your faith this way? What might be challenging or encouraging about it?
Our challenge this week is to take small steps towards confidence…and to keep our eyes open in order to see the results. Where do you need to take a small step this week? How can we help hold each other accountable to this process?