Extraordinary Faith

I just finished reading the book Extraordinary Faith by Sheila Walsh. Two things which one might assume by reading the cover, which I have found to not be true:

• From the subtitle, "God's perfect Gift for every Woman's Heart," it sounds like this would be a book in which only women would be interested. It was written as a companion to one of the Women of Faith themes. However, I have found that her conclusions are applicable for everyone -- not just woman.
• Doesn't it sound like it would be a "how to" book? "How to have extraordinary faith." It's not. From the Introduction: "God's Word is all about His faithfulness to us even when we are faithless! I am convinced, won over, sure, persuaded, and certain that faith is not about what we are able to muster up; it is indeed all abouts God's faithfulness revealed through Jesus. Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote, 'It is not thy hold on Christ that saves thee; it is Christ. It is not thy joy in Christ that saves the; it is Christ. It is not even thy faith in Christ that saves thee, though that be the instrument. It is Christ's blood and merit.'"

I really like in the book when Sheila speaks about Peter walking on the water. Peter, ever passionate, steps out on the water, and walks toward Jesus. He doesn't begin to sink until he takes his eyes off of Jesus and looks at the water. What does Jesus do? He doesn't calm the storm (We shouldn't think that we will not face difficulties as Christians). He doesn't let Peter sink and drown (As if to say, that's just what you get when you loose your faith!) nor does he condemn Peter. He reaches out and grabs his friend and then asks, "Why did you doubt?" He didn't say, "How could you doubt?!" or "I can't believe you doubted!" He simply asked why so that Peter could examine his heart and build an understanding of what it means to walk by faith.

Sheila talks about the misconception that some people have that "if I had only had enough faith, then this or that would have happened." The book is filled with examples -- especially Biblical ones -- of God working through people who do not have "enough" faith. God's faithfulness to his covenant to us never fails. He never stops loving us. Hebrews 13:5-6:

God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"