I love the writing of David Timms (I have mentioned that before on this blog). We are currently reading through his Lenten devotional (2017) at home (Reflections through Romans – you can pick this up on US Amazon).
I’m also reading this year’s devotionals online. Today he talked about our faith – and how we sometimes misread the story of Peter – where Jesus says, “Oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt.” Here are some of those thoughts – you can check them out at https://davidtimms.wordpress.com/2018/02/20/little-faith/
“Little faith” in the gospels is not a criticism but a commendation. Jesus told His disciples that if they had faith as small as a mustard seed (that’s very small) they could move mountains (Matthew 17:20) or uproot mulberry trees with a word (Luke 17:6). Little faith is not a bad thing; no faith is.
Indeed, Peter’s little faith saw him walk on water. The story is not so much about Peter’s failure — which is how we tend to read it — but of Christ’s grace, power, and responsiveness to faith of any size. Perhaps the tone of Jesus’ voice was not frustrated disappointment but gentle admiration.