Matthew 14:28 English Standard Version (ESV) And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

This is a valid example only if we have asked the Lord to command us to do something we know we cannot do in our own strength. Who among us actually pray for this command? My guess is that many do not.

Hebrews 10:31 English Standard Version (ESV) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

No one should feel ashamed if they have not prayed for this. There are many ways to validate our faith without going through such extreme measures. The need for validation is common for all of us.

Mark 9:24 English Standard Version (ESV) Immediately the father of the child cried out^{[with tears]} and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

We believe in Christ but do we really know everything about faith and living this life of faith? There always seems to be something we do not understand. Do we need to know everything to trust God? These things we wonder about should never be allowed to shake our faith in God. Because God knows us intimately, He knows what we can receive, what we should receive and how we can accept it. Those are three different issues.

Trust God that if any unbelief hinders our relationship with God, He will work to remove that stumbling stone for walking in faith. When we are young in the faith, it is easy to trip. With maturity we can examine those stumbling stones. With more maturity we will find ourselves leaping over them without having to know who put them there or a need to remove them.

1 Timothy 1:5 English Standard Version (ESV) The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

2 Corinthians 13:5 English Standard Version (ESV) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

How can we test ourselves on the issues of faith?

Considering that the example set before us was Abraham, the father of faith for mankind, then it begins with believing we have heard God. Hear God, believe God and obey God. This is how we test our faith. Given that God does want to have a close personal relationship with each of us, then these first tests of faith will produce noticeable results. Positive results encourage us to listen for God’s voice all the more.

As we experience positive test results the tests will get a little more complicated. We must accept that with growth in Christ there will be growing pains just as in real life. We might fail a test or two while we grow. Sometimes we say no to things that God asks of us by faith.

It took saying no to God to reveal that there is always a part of ourselves that has survival instincts and we will not see those selfish instincts without God revealing them to us by asking for things where He knows we will say no. It is a part of self-discovery. We do not begin this journey with God knowing all things. Some steps of faith are not blind obedience, they are in full awareness of the dangers involved.

Read the accounts of Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14:25-33 and discover points upon which our faith walk hinges. We doubt it is Jesus. We ask Jesus to command us to do something we know we cannot do in our own strength. He grants the request and we find ourselves falling under the power of the Holy Spirit who is able to do all things in us. We realize in the flesh that God has taken over and a reverent fear of the Lord takes place.