Faith it till you Make it
My Cat Saw a Ghost?
Have you ever woken up startled in the middle of the night, thinking someone is in the house? This happened to me the other day. I woke up to the sound of my cat screaming. So I got up, and she ran downstairs. I thought, "Great… is she trying to show me something? Is someone in the house?"
So I went into the kitchen and grabbed a steak knife. I followed the cat downstairs. I checked one room—nothing. Checked the next—nothing. And wouldn’t you know it, when I checked the last room—nothing! The cat woke me up for no reason. Apparently, she thought she saw a ghost.
Of course, this sounds funny in retrospect, but how many times do we find ourselves in that scenario—startled awake, wondering what's going on? In Matthew 14, the disciples had this same experience. They thought they were seeing a ghost, and it terrified them!
So I went into the kitchen and grabbed a steak knife. I followed the cat downstairs. I checked one room—nothing. Checked the next—nothing. And wouldn’t you know it, when I checked the last room—nothing! The cat woke me up for no reason. Apparently, she thought she saw a ghost.
Of course, this sounds funny in retrospect, but how many times do we find ourselves in that scenario—startled awake, wondering what's going on? In Matthew 14, the disciples had this same experience. They thought they were seeing a ghost, and it terrified them!
The Disciples’ Storm
Matthew 14:22–26 (NLT)
Immediately after this (the feeding of the 5000), Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
Immediately after this (the feeding of the 5000), Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
The disciples were out late, trying to row across a lake they had traveled many times. Many of them were fishermen who grew up on that water, so when veteran sailors are afraid of an intense storm, heavy waves, and strong wind—you know it’s bad. Other gospels tell us they were about three miles out and stuck.
Then around 3 a.m., exhausted, fighting the wind, Jesus casually came walking toward them on the water. The book of Mark even says Jesus was going to walk past them! I don’t know if He was racing them or testing their faith or what, but in any case, they saw Jesus strolling on the water like it was a newly paved sidewalk—and they freaked out. Understandably.
Then around 3 a.m., exhausted, fighting the wind, Jesus casually came walking toward them on the water. The book of Mark even says Jesus was going to walk past them! I don’t know if He was racing them or testing their faith or what, but in any case, they saw Jesus strolling on the water like it was a newly paved sidewalk—and they freaked out. Understandably.
Jesus Speaks
Matthew 14:27 (NLT)
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
At this point, the disciples were exhausted from rowing all night. They were stranded, unable to get anywhere and unable to turn back. They were in danger, because any second the wind or waves could capsize them. They were terrified, both of the storm and of what they thought was a ghost. They couldn’t see any way through the situation.
And into all of this, Jesus looked at the very same circumstances they were facing and said, Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here. He called them to have faith in spite of their circumstances. And in life, we will face the same challenge. We will encounter impossible situations, and yet be called to trust Jesus—even when we don’t see how we’re going to make it. Sometimes you have to faith it till you make it.
And into all of this, Jesus looked at the very same circumstances they were facing and said, Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here. He called them to have faith in spite of their circumstances. And in life, we will face the same challenge. We will encounter impossible situations, and yet be called to trust Jesus—even when we don’t see how we’re going to make it. Sometimes you have to faith it till you make it.
Faithing It vs. Faking It
Did you know that in life you will have problems? Spoiler alert. How many of you are facing problems right now? And even if your seas are calm at the moment, inevitably there is a storm on the horizon. That isn’t encouraging—but it’s true. Jesus knows this. Jesus actually sent the disciples into that storm, not to see them fail, but to grow their faith. Because it's our faith in Him that enables us to make it—through our current problems and through anything this world throws at us. Sometimes you have to faith it till you make it.
This is not the same as “fake it till you make it.” Faking it is about pretending everything is alright. It’s about being what you are not. It is based on something that is, ultimately, fake.
Faithing it isn’t pretending that what’s going on is alright; it’s acknowledging what is true even when the circumstances aren’t. It’s not pretending to be rich when you’re in financial need; it’s saying and believing that God is your provider—even when you don’t see how provision will come. It’s not pretending your health is perfect; it’s saying, I am in pain BUT I believe God is my healer, and He will heal me.
Faithing it isn’t about being something you aren’t. It’s about being who you really are in Christ. The Bible tells us that anyone who believes in Jesus is a new creation. That means you don’t need to stay the old you. Fear, insecurity, pride, greed, and selfishness belong to the old you. Scripture also tells us we are more than conquerors, co-heirs with Jesus, God’s children.
Faithing it is recognizing that these things are what’s truly real about us. Anything less is a lie. In biblical logic, believing anything less is actually the pretend—the fake. What is most true about me are the things the Bible says about me.
Faithing it means choosing the most real reality. Yes, the storm was dangerous and powerful. But Jesus is more powerful. Which reality will you trust?
This is not the same as “fake it till you make it.” Faking it is about pretending everything is alright. It’s about being what you are not. It is based on something that is, ultimately, fake.
Faithing it isn’t pretending that what’s going on is alright; it’s acknowledging what is true even when the circumstances aren’t. It’s not pretending to be rich when you’re in financial need; it’s saying and believing that God is your provider—even when you don’t see how provision will come. It’s not pretending your health is perfect; it’s saying, I am in pain BUT I believe God is my healer, and He will heal me.
Faithing it isn’t about being something you aren’t. It’s about being who you really are in Christ. The Bible tells us that anyone who believes in Jesus is a new creation. That means you don’t need to stay the old you. Fear, insecurity, pride, greed, and selfishness belong to the old you. Scripture also tells us we are more than conquerors, co-heirs with Jesus, God’s children.
Faithing it is recognizing that these things are what’s truly real about us. Anything less is a lie. In biblical logic, believing anything less is actually the pretend—the fake. What is most true about me are the things the Bible says about me.
Faithing it means choosing the most real reality. Yes, the storm was dangerous and powerful. But Jesus is more powerful. Which reality will you trust?
Peter Steps Out
Matthew 14:28–33 (NLT)
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
We often notice that as long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus—as long as he kept faithing it—he walked on water. It was only when he looked back at the storm that he sank. And that is true. But don’t miss the fact that for a few steps, Peter walked on water. For a few incredible moments, by faith, a human being did the impossible. He ignored every natural law and simply did what Jesus said—and it worked.
This wasn’t just for Peter. It is for every one of us. If we hear Jesus, obey, and step out in faith, we will see even greater things. Suddenly the storms of life won’t be dangerous. They will still be real—but what danger can harm you when you are walking with Jesus?
If Jesus tells you to come and walk on the water, then that becomes the true reality. The idea of sinking becomes fake and a lie. The entire universe exists because God spoke it into being, and God is still speaking now. Whatever He speaks is what is most true.
So when God speaks—step out of the boat. Walk on the water. Faith it till you make it.
This wasn’t just for Peter. It is for every one of us. If we hear Jesus, obey, and step out in faith, we will see even greater things. Suddenly the storms of life won’t be dangerous. They will still be real—but what danger can harm you when you are walking with Jesus?
If Jesus tells you to come and walk on the water, then that becomes the true reality. The idea of sinking becomes fake and a lie. The entire universe exists because God spoke it into being, and God is still speaking now. Whatever He speaks is what is most true.
So when God speaks—step out of the boat. Walk on the water. Faith it till you make it.
Reflection:
- What are situations where you need to “Faith it till you make it”?
- What is the difference between “faithing it” and “faking it”?
- How do we know what we can have faith for?
- Look up a Bible verse to rely on for your situation.
