In several instances in the Bible, God addresses his disciples as those of little faith. What does it mean to have little faith? Who are these people with little faith?

Those who are always WORRIED about personal needs

Christians who are concerned about their personal needs, depending on their material possessions. Those who worry about food, clothing and shelter are called ones with little faith.

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” Matthew 6:30-31

How should Christians be? They should be those seeking the kingdom of God. Like the apostles and believers in the early church days. What does Apostle Paul say of such people? “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 

Those who are FEARFUL

“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26 

Jesus was resting peacefully on the very boat in which the disciples were traveling in. When the storm came the disciples were terrified as the raging sea tossed the boat to and fro. They were too frightened to realise that Jesus was still resting despite the storm and raging sea. They ended up waking Jesus so He could protect them from the wrath of the sea. They had lost their peace, even though they had the Prince of Peace with them.

Christians need to walk in boldness. “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1 

We are purchased by the precious blood of Jesus, so Christians must not be afraid of sin, sickness, fear or death or persecution. “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:9 

Those who DOUBT Gods Word

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Matthew 14:31 

Given the opportunity, who wouldn't love to walk on water? Peter's request to do the impossible is commendable yet his excitement got the better of him when the storm came. He forgot that Jesus had approved of his walking on the water, which means, he just needed to walk up to him without a shadow of doubt. But, when he saw the storm he doubted the word of Jesus.

Peter lost his peace and could not stay his mind on Jesus. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3 

Let's learn to keep our focus on Jesus alone. “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.” Proverbs 4:25 

Those who LACK SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING

“Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?” Matthew 16:8-11 

Jesus wasn't talking about bread, He was talking about their lack of understanding concerning His power. The Pharisees and Sadducees were religious people, focused on the external, and lacked the spiritual understanding to believe in the Word of God.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” Colossians 1:9 

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,” Ephesians 1:18 

As Christians, let's seek the Lord for a deeper walk with Him. Let's desire to be filled with the knowledge of His will as our eyes of understanding is enlightened to walk in the hope of His calling.