Day Five: When You Are Stuck in Doubt (Matthew 14:26-31)

Focus Scripture:  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” – Matthew 14:26-30

{Even Now: A 7 Day Devotional Through the Life Changing Miracles of Jesus}

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five: When You Are Stuck in Doubt (Matthew 14:26-31)

Is your heart torn between walking in faith and doubting God’s power and presence? There are moments when your heart will be so confident in God’s promises for your life. But then, there will also be those few moments when doubt will creep in like an uninvited guest into our lives. 

Peter’s heart was full of faith in one moment, and almost immediately doubt enveloped his heart when he was confronted with the terrifying wind. Faith propelled him forward, but as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the raging storm, doubt pulled him under and he began to sink.

Jesus Walking on Water

After the miracle of feeding five thousand, Jesus dismissed his disciples and went to the mountainside alone to pray. Later that night, Jesus saw the disciples struggling, their boat tossed about by the waves because the wind was against it. Jesus went out to them walking on the water. When his disciples saw him, they were terrified and cried out in fear. Immediately, Jesus reassured them with these words – “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” The Passion Translation puts it this way ; “Be brave and don’t be afraid. I am here!” – Matthew 14:27

Then Peter boldly responded – “Lord if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus called him forth, and in one swift moment, Peter defied the laws of nature and began to walk on water. But as soon as he turned his focus on the storm and away from Jesus, he began to sink. His doubt overwhelmed his faith.

Are you in doubt about God’s power and miraculous hand showing up in your situation? The bible says that when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. Sounds familiar, right? Whenever doubt creeps into your heart, choose to keep your eyes on Jesus and off the circumstances. You are not alone on the waters of life.

Peter was at his weakest moment, the force of the water was pulling him in deeper, yet he did something powerful. He cried out to Jesus – “Lord Save me!”  And  Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. How often do you cry out to God in your lowest and weakest moments? Remember that you are never alone when the wind and storms of life come up against you. You can still call out to God when the waters of difficulty and challenges are pulling you in or your faith is sinking.

When Jesus came walking on the water to his disciples, he was showing them what was possible with God by your side. Beyond walking on physical water, he was teaching them a powerful principle that can be applied in difficult seasons of life. Faith will keep you afloat on life’s raging waters and as long as you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will not sink.

You have within you the ability to live and rise above the trials and challenges life will throw at you. You can walk comfortably on life’s waters, navigating each season and territory knowing that a greater force keeps you on the surface and you will not sink. Why? Jesus lives in you. And you are a daughter of the most high God.

You are a child of God. The murky or tumultuous waters of life’s challenges cannot keep you under. God is walking with you on the water. 

Quick Lessons on Walking on Water

Faith Moves You Forward – Peter did not sink because he stepped out of the boat; he sank because he took his eyes off Jesus. When you focus on your circumstances, problems and challenges rather than God’s faithfulness and power, doubt takes over. Who are you looking at? God or your problems.

Jesus is Closer than you think – Even when Peter’s faith began to waver, Jesus did not let him drown. He was quick to rescue him the moment he called out. God is closer than you think and wants you to call out to him in your weakest and lowest moments.

When You Doubt, it is not the End – Jesus did not condemn Peter for doubting; instead, he used that moment to teach him about faith and focusing on God. He asked him – why did you doubt? Why would you let doubt win?  Our doubts don’t disqualify us from God’s presence. Rather, it can point us to the presence of the father and cause us to call out to God for help. God always meets us where we are and strengthens our faith.

Are you stuck in doubt, afraid to step forward? Does it feel like you are sinking deeper into grief, despair and hopelessness? What is God calling you to trust him with today? Like Peter, Jesus is inviting you to come – to trust him even when the wind gets stronger. Fix your eyes on Jesus, and when doubt creeps in, be quick to cry out, “Lord, save me.” His hand will reach out to pull you out of deep waters.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, when doubt tries to pull me under, help me to fix my eyes on you alone. Let my trust in you remain unbroken as I walk in faith. Thank you for always being near, ready to hold and lift me up whenever I doubt and my faith fails. Thank you for leading me in deep waters and helping me to stay afloat. I ask that you strengthen my faith to walk where you call me, even when the waters seem uncertain. I will keep my eyes on you now and forever. In Jesus name.  Amen.

Image by Roger Casco from Pixabay