What is Little Faith?

​There are times when the Lord made reference to the disciples having little faith.  One example is found in Matthew 8:23-27.  Little faith translates a single compound word in the original language, oligospistos.  Oligos means small as in number or size.  Pistos means belief or faith and is the noun form of Pisteuo, the verb to believe.  Pistos or faith, being a noun, refers to what is believed.  It is not describing the intensity or strength by which it is held.  So, when Jesus Christ said the disciples had little faith, He was saying their belief structure was limited in content or range.    
 
The context makes that clear.  In Matthew 8:18 the Lord had instructed the disciples to set out in a boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  As they were making the crossing the wind picked up and with it the waves.  They were apparently taking on water and the men were afraid they would be swamped.  The Lord was sleeping but they woke Him up saying “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  And Jesus Christ replied, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”  Now, based on their words I have no doubt they believed Jesus could save them and I’m sure they strongly held that belief.  So, what could Christ have meant by saying their faith was small? 
 
Let’s go back to v. 18 where the Lord had instructed them to take the boat to the other side of the lake.  When Jesus Christ, being God, says we’re going to cross the lake it means they were going to cross the lake.  When they woke Him up, they had not yet reached the other side.  Therefore, the boat was not going to sink.  At least not until they had reached the other shore.  We are to believe, life by, every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  They forgot that and so the Lord referred to their faith as little.   
 
Summary:  Believe means to be persuaded something is true.  It is a simple either/or process.  You either believe a proposition is true or you don’t.  There are no degrees of believing.  Belief or faith is the what of believing, the object or content.  Those distinctions are important because confusion on their meaning will rob you of the fullness of joy the Lord wants for you.  The secret to avoiding little faith is to read your Bible. Learn about all that God has promised, 2 Peter 1:2-4.