Ponder:
What examples of faithfulness in scripture challenge or inspire you the most? Have you witnessed this type of faithfulness in your life?
Reflections From The PrayerBowl Team:
Reading scripture of faithful followers of Jesus and hearing testimony of fellow believers is inspiring and challenging.
The story that inspires me the most (and is my favorite) is found in three of the gospels: Mark 5:25-29, 34, Matthew 9:20-22, and Luke 8:43-48. In these scriptures, we meet a woman who has been suffering for over 12 years. She had seen all the doctors and spent all she had to be restored, with no success. But then, she hears about Jesus. She has new hope and a great understanding of his power. She believes that if she just touches his garment, she will be healed. And she was! Then, a special moment happens that shows us Jesus isn't just a powerful healer, but is also full of compassion for his children. He turns and seeks out the woman; he wants to engage with her in real conversation. He calls her "Daughter" and blesses her. Her faith and the love of Jesus meet in that moment, and it is beautiful.
The faith story that challenges me the most is found in Job 1:6-22. Job is a faithful servant of God, but satan says it is only because God has put a hedge of protection around Job and he has everything he needs and wants. God knows Job's heart, and he allows satan to test him. This itself is hard to swallow. But then, in Job 1:12-20, Job loses EVERYTHING. Although Job is overwhelmed with grief, in the next verse, we witness his unwavering faith in God as he praises the LORD. "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."
I witnessed Job-like faith when I was a little girl, and it has impacted me my entire life. Our family friends lost 3 of their 4 children when a drunk driver struck their car. This is still one of the most tragic experiences in my life. The daughter, who was my age, was in a coma for weeks. At her funeral, her mom (who was the choir director and played the piano at church) sang, "Jesus Loves Me". She was beyond devastated, barely holding on by a thread, but her faith and trust in God were strong. Witnessing the person who had just lost so much praise the name of Jesus was such a pivotal moment in my faith journey. I encourage you to share your own faith stories with us and/or with others, as we can all learn and be inspired by each other's experiences.
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Two scriptures that both challenge and inspire me…
Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” This verse inspires me because it reminds me that faithfulness isn’t just about the big, dramatic moments — it’s about how we respond every day. It challenges me to hold onto hope, to wait patiently when life feels uncertain, and to keep praying even when answers don’t come right away.
Philippians 4:6 also speaks deeply to me: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Faithfulness here means releasing my worries to God in prayer, trusting that He is working even when I can’t see it.
These verses inspire and challenge me at the same time. They remind me that prayer is at the center of faithfulness. Even though I consider myself a faithful person, I have moments of anxiety and impatience. My natural tendency is to want to control outcomes — but these Scriptures remind me that it’s not me who’s “got this.” It’s Him. God’s got this.I’ve witnessed this kind of faithfulness in my own life during two significant seasons.
A few years ago, when my husband lost his job, I prayed fervently for God to open new doors for him. The wait felt long and discouraging at times, but I never stopped trusting God’s goodness. Staying prayerful encouraged me to lean on Him more deeply, and it reminded me that true faithfulness often shines brightest in the hardest seasons.
Another example is my grown son, who for many years struggled to find his path and passion. For eight years, I prayed with both hope and tears, sometimes feeling like my prayers were unheard. But Philippians 4:6 reminded me to keep praying with gratitude instead of fear. Recently, he made a brave, life-changing decision that will shape his future for the better. He is focused, driven, and committed, and as his mom, I will continue to pray for his safety and success, trusting that God will guide him every step of the way. To me, being “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” means choosing to trust God’s timing and wisdom over my own. It’s releasing fears, resting in His promises, and believing — even in the waiting — that God truly does have this.
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I am reading a book by pastor John Ortberg titled If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. The author shares that you and I have the same faith and longing that Peter had when he stepped off the boat. Fear and growth go together. Peter puts himself in a position to fail, but more importantly, to grow. Peter did not ask for a guarantee, just an opportunity. The scene I have shared below from the Chosen takes you from fear to faith, back to fear, to growth. The kind of growth that brings you closer to Jesus, which deepens your character and your trust in Him.
Click Here To Watch: Don't Let Me Go
Jesus Walks on the Water (Matthew 14:22-32)
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
