If it wasn’t so serious, it would be funny how often what I say when speaking at the various groups or churches where I am invited applies first and foremost to me. There I am, merrily encouraging others to take heed of the things God is saying when a gentle voice somewhere inside me pulls me up short and says, ‘So Jo-Anne, where are you on this matter? What are you going to do about this?’
Last week was an almost too perfect example of one such time, to my shame. I had been invited by a particular group of women to share something of how God has guided and encouraged me in my writing journey. As I prepared my input, I kept coming back to a story from the gospels I have often spoken on in the past—the account from Matthew 14 of Peter walking on water. I love so many things about this story. First off, I love Jesus’ words in verse 27, where, as soon as he notes how terrified his disciples are when they see him walking on the water, he says to them, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Many times in my writing journey, I have drawn on these words of Jesus in order to keep going.
I love it how Peter then finds the courage to suggest that Jesus actually should invite him to walk on that water too. And as soon as he hears that little word ‘Come’, he takes the risk of stepping out of that boat—and off he trots towards Jesus (29)! But when he notices how the wind is buffeting the waves and begins to sink, Jesus is immediately there, reaching out his hand to rescue him. Yet it is what Jesus says to Peter next that spoke to me the most this past week.
You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt? (31)
You see, I was sharing how, given the fact that I now have five novels published and one non-fiction work, there was no need for me ever to have doubted God’s call to write and the fact that God would bring it about. Likewise, I was urging these women to do all God was calling and had gifted them to do and to trust God in the process. Yet, that very day, I myself had doubted. Not believing I would sell many books at this particular venue, I had brought with me only a small number of my earlier novels in particular. Imagine my surprise then when, before my eyes, every available copy of my first two novels speedily disappeared from my book table—along with a large number of my later books! All up, I sold more than double what I had expected.
It was time to eat my words. I had doubted God big-time. I knew God had given me this speaking engagement—yet that did not translate into having the faith to pack a good number of books in the car to sell afterwards. When it came to showing my trust in a concrete way, I was definitely found wanting on this occasion.
How humbling it was to hear God’s gentle question ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ yet again in my life! Is this a question God often seems to have to ask you too?
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 
So very True Jo – Anne, I enjoyed your message it confirms that we need to Trust and obey. I find as I write comments and messages for Posts that I often write what I did not know, this is the same with my Poetry and Power points and I take notice like you do and that is what it is all about believing what God tells us.
I’m Dyslectic and I can’t write normally more then the basics and I often get them mixed up but not so when lead by The Lord through the empowering of The Holy Spirit,although I’m still a cracked vessel, my spelling, grammar and punctuation is not very good but thankfully God is the Supper Glue. I have a problem when my heart takes over and so my comments are often too long also because Scripture comes to my mind to confirm and I include this too.
On of my favourite Stories in the Bible is very simular to yours Jo-Anne, it’s when Jesus fell asleep in the boat and a Storm started and of course the Disciples were fearful but Jesus said the same to them ,‘You of little faith, why did you doubt? how often do we become fearful but Jesus reassures us that we are not alone, I have shared my favourite Scripture with you before but it fits yours and my story, so I will share it again.
Isaiah 43:1-3 – Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.”
Christian Love from both of us – Anne.
Thankis, Anne. Those verses from Isaiah 43 are some of my all-time favourites! I remember they were particularly precious to me when I first became a Christian–I was fifteen. Keep writing and sharing your heart with others! God bless.