Why Did You Doubt?

Jesus Walks on the Water (Matthew 14:22-33)

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Friend, why do we doubt? As children of God, we are the privileged recipients of His GRACE (God's Riches At Christ's Expense). Although most Christians would acknowledge the Bible as the incorruptible, indestructible Word of God with the power to save and to heal, do we live our everyday lives with the same burning conviction? When we pray, do we pray believing that almighty God has the power to move mountains to provide the needs of His children, or do we pray whimsically like tossing pennies in a wishing well? Now don't get me wrong. I'm not here to tell you that this is easy. We read in Exodus that even after the Lord plunders the mighty Egyptians, His Chosen People still ignored the power of His provision. More so, I hope that we all - most definitely including myself - are made more aware of the very shortcomings that keep us from realizing God's glory. Radical dependence on God means having FAITH (For All I Trust Him) that Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Our Provider) will intercede on our behalf - always - starting at the Cross. We must be sensitive to the convictions of the Holy Spirit, understanding that unfortunately our flesh will always be too shortsighted to realize the latter glory of God. I pray every day that the Lord will reveal to me who and what I need to pray for, knowing that the flesh is deceptive by nature. We realize that our sinful nature keeps us from being able to discern the holy things of God. In the Scriptures (like the passage above), we see that there are three responses to every trial and tribulation set before us by the Lord. He wants to see if we will respond in FEAR, CONFUSION, or FAITH, given His promise to us in Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." We can live every day in the utmost confidence that we're safe in His arms.