Some things we can count on. The sun brings light into the world each day and just as surely nightfall comes. A ball dropped from above will find its way to the ground, and every life will come to an end. We can count on these things—and we do.

These laws of nature and others like them are certainties that form the foundation for our patterns of life, decisions we make, and expectations of things to come. We depend on them because we know them to be reliably true. There are other things, however, that some people will rely on that others deem less certain. Bungee jumping is an example.

The idea of strapping a large rubber band to my body and leaping from a high bridge with a raging river far below is a thrill that I can forego. But those that do it have faith that the rubber band will end the fall before disaster strikes. No thank you. I have faith in gravity, but about the rubber band I’m not so sure. Neither am I willing to step out of a boat with an expectation of walking on water as Peter once did.

Peter was so excited to see Jesus walking on water that he stepped out of the boat to try it himself. He did it—that is until he stopped to think about it. Walking on water violates one of nature’s laws, so Peter quickly lost faith and he began to sink.

I find myself sinking too when I pause to consider how much faith I have in nature’s laws and discover how little faith I have in God by contrast. I realize that Jesus was talking to me when He said, “O, you of little faith.”  There is comfort, however, in the difference between belief and faith. I believe nature’s laws can be conquered, but I have little faith that God will grant me the ability to rebuke the wind or walk on water as Jesus did. My belief in God is not diminished by any shortage of faith in what He might do. I am as sure that God is there as I am of the air I breathe, the sounds I hear, and the gravity that anchors my feet to the ground. And that is not all.

I am sure of God’s grace and forgiveness for all of my human frailties. And I am certain of everlasting life in the presence of God the Father. He sent his Son into the world to wash away my sins.

And that is a reliable truth.