Donkey, Airplanes, and Real Faith

There is a moment in Shrek that captures something most of us never slow down long enough to see. Shrek and Donkey reach that shaky, clattering wooden bridge stretched over a river of lava. Shrek steps confidently, but Donkey is losing it. His legs are shaking, his eyes are wide, and every sentence is a prayer mixed with panic. Know the scene?

Well.....Donkey still makes it across!

Not because he found inner bravery. Not because he talked himself into a stronger mindset. Not because he had impressive faith in the bridge.

He makes it because his weak, shaky, and clumsy faith in the bridge holds.

Even with weak knees, anxious thoughts, and barely-there belief, he moves forward and discovers the truth we often forget. The strength of your faith is not the deciding factor. The strength of what your faith rests on is.

Sometimes you and I are Donkey. We feel shaky, unsure, not nearly as confident as we wish we were. And yet, when what we are standing on is secure, we still find ourselves moving forward, one hesitant step at a time, toward something stable. Donkey had weak faith in a strong object.

That is grace at work. That is truth holding you more tightly than you can hold it.

Now picture a different scene. Someone stands at the edge of a cliff fully convinced they can fly. They believe deeply. They feel confident. Their “faith” feels strong. And they leap. (By the way... I went down a deep dark rabbit hole on this and you wouldn't believe how many people have actually tried to do this, and they all have the same result.... They Failed).

Here is the idea: Strong faith in a weak object will always fail you.

Now picture someone else sitting on row 18 of a plane, gripping the armrests before takeoff. Their faith is tiny. Their confidence is thin. Their trust is shaky. They are not bold or heroic. But the plane lifts, carries them through the sky, and delivers them safely.

Weak faith in a strong object still works, because the power is not in the strength of the person. It is in the strength of what is carrying them.

We sometimes assume God responds to the intensity of our faith, but that is not how Scripture paints it. Jesus never says, “Grow the biggest faith imaginable.” He says, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” things move. Not because the seed is powerful. The seed is tiny. But the One receiving that trust is strong.

Your emotions may rise and fall. Your confidence may grow and shrink. You will not always feel sure, bold, or certain. That is human. But when the object of your faith is strong enough, even your smallest trust can carry you further than you realize.

In my work with CEO's, Executives, Founders, Owners, and etc... I see this all the time. Here is what I mean:

Your career is a good thing. Your business is a good thing. Your relationships are a good thing. Your financial acumen is a good thing. Your ability to sell things to people is actually a good thing. Your goals, your dreams, your financial future, your calling, all good things.

But each one becomes fragile the moment you place the full weight of your identity or security on it. Good things make awful Gods. Good gifts make unstable foundations.I love the way Timothy Keller puts it:

Careers, they shift.
Relationships, they change.
Dreams, those constantly evolve.
Plans, fall through and break.
Markets, well goodness we know they wobble.

None of these things were designed to hold your life. They were designed to serve your life, not secure it. How do you know if you are finding your identity or security in them? Well, how would you respond if it was taken away? Could be a good indicator.

This is why Jesus’ invitation is so freeing. You are not asked to build your future on your own competence, your own momentum, or your own clarity. You are invited to build your life on God himself, that is on His character, His promises, His truth, and the identity He declares over you.

That foundation does not wobble. That bridge does not collapse. That object of faith does not fail.

And even if your trust is small, hesitant, or honestly a bit shaky at times, the One you are standing on is strong enough to hold you.

A life built on the promises of God is not strong because you are stable. It is strong because He is.

And when you learn to place even mustard seed faith in something secure, you begin to experience what a firm, grounded, resilient, peace-filled life looks like in the real world. Not perfectly steady, but deeply rooted. Not always confident, but always held.

Let's quickly pull this together. 

Small faith in a strong object is much greater than strong faith in a weak object.

Because in the end, it is not the strength of your belief that holds you. It is the strength of what you are believing in.

Good things make wobbly foundations.
God makes the only unshakeable one.

So this week, pause and ask yourself a simple but honest question.

• What am I standing on right now, and is it truly strong enough to hold me?

• What, if lost, would it be devastating for me? 

If the answer is Him, even your small faith is enough to build a steady life.

By the way, I don't have this figured out, but I'm committed to continuing learning, growing, and questioning myself and I'd love for you to join me because I need people in my corner too! 

As always, let us know how we can help you navigate your world as you navigate the world.

In Your Corner.

See you next Tuesday!