In this episode of What Faith Looks Like, Paul explores a recurring Bible pattern: God often chooses reluctant messengers, and he doesn’t simply move on when they say “not me.” He walks through familiar Sunday school accounts of Jonah running from Nineveh, Moses resisting his call at the burning bush, Elijah collapsing into despair under Jezebel’s threat, and Ezekiel sitting speechless in exile. Each shows how they resist in a different way. Against that backdrop, Isaiah stands out: after his sin is atoned for, he responds immediately, “Here I am. Send me.” Paul challenges listeners to examine their own faith and confidence in atonement, asking whether they offer themselves to speak God’s truth or instinctively avoid the call, because God is always asking, “Who should I send?”

Paul explores an obscure Bible figure Jesus highlights in Luke 4: the widow of Zarephath. After Jesus reads Isaiah in Nazareth and claims its fulfillment, the hometown crowd grows furious when he compares himself to Elijah and points out that Elijah found faith outside Israel. Paul retells 1 Kings 17, where God sends Elijah into Baal country during a famine to a widowed mother gathering sticks for a final meal. Though desperate, she confesses, “As the Lord your God lives,” shares her last flour and oil, shelters Elijah despite deadly political risk, and sees God miraculously sustain her household. Paul argues her story shows what “appointed” faith looks like: no special treatment, real sacrifice, and steady trust that the Lord is the living God. As Jesus pointed out “there were many widows in Israel, but none like this one”. Do we have what it takes to be appointed by God?

In this episode of What Faith Looks Like, Paul explores why so many people relate to Peter, an imperfect follower of Jesus who swings between faith and failure. Peter is someone who compared to anyone else in the Bible is someone who we can all relate to. He revisits key moments in the Gospel where Peter doubts and are lifted up: the miraculous catch of fish, confessing Jesus as the Messiah and then being rebuked, walking on water and sinking, and boldly promising loyalty before denying Jesus and weeping bitterly. It is encouraging that Jesus restores Peter, but warns there is a further message of Peter that we sometimes miss. Peter becomes a fearless, steady leader who preaches the message of Jesus at Pentecost, healing and confronting authorities, and helping bring the gospel to Gentiles. Peter isn’t suddenly perfect, but his faith matures into something unshakable, showing believers what they should aspire to become through Jesus’ grace. Peter’s faith starts up with a lot of ups and downs, but then becomes rock solid. It our prayer that our faith will become stronger day by day like the faith of Peter.