(Excerpt from Pastor’s book, ‘How to Get a Grip on God’s Promises”)
This woman had long-haul faith. She was not easily moved; her faith was focused. The New Testament gives us some examples of those whose faith was not so steady. Matthew 14:22-33 is the story of Jesus walking on the water in the midst of a storm. When the disciples saw Him they cried out. Jesus told them not to be afraid. Eventually Jesus told Peter to come walk on the water. Unlike the Shunammite woman, Peter started out strong but allowed the circumstances around him to move him off his faith. Peter began to sink and cried out to Jesus for help. Jesus reached out his hand and then said to Peter, “. . . O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Do you remember in Luke 22:32, when Jesus prayed for Peter? He said, “. . . I have prayed for thee, that your faith fail not . . .” Let me tell you the kind of faith Peter had. Peter had what I like to call “burning rubber” faith. That is how we describe when a car takes off quickly and leaves black rubber marks on the road. Peter was good for about a block or two, then something would happen and he would explode and all you would hear was the screeching of tires and there Peter goes again. Then he runs out of gas or his motor comes apart.
Years ago, the transmissions in some of the old cars we used to drive would suddenly stop working. It was kind of embarrassing when it would malfunction in front of your girlfriend. You are showing her how your car will run and it lasts about a block or two and then it would stall. That was like Peter. I can identify with Peter because at one time I was like that. His heart meant well. I mean this guy would cut off somebody’s ear to help Jesus. But Jesus prayed that his faith would not just be short-haul faith; Jesus desired that his faith would be steady for the long-haul.