22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance[a] from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
27But 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. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
Completely depending upon God is essential, regardless of our level of spiritual maturity. When we begin to rely on our own understanding, we are in danger of ignoring God’s assessment of the situation. But by remembering his past works and his present power, we can be sure that we are not cutting off his potential help.
Doubt blocks your receiver; just as we know that there are signals all around us, radio waves, television signals, and all we have to do to receive their transmission, is to tune in.
Doubting skeptics are limited in what they might see or know, while Jesus said “all things are possible to him who believes” (Matthew 9:23). Peter walked on the water until he began to doubt. Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said to him, you of little faith, why did you doubt?
We resist doubt by practicing trust. Trust in God grows as we faithfully seek him on a daily basis. To stabilize your trust, commit yourself whole heartedly to God. If your faith is new, weak, or struggling, remember that you can trust God. Ask for Jesus' help as often as you need to strengthen your faith and trust in God's love and guidance. Please remember, you can never ask to often for God to help you have trust in him. As a matter of fact, I think that it is the prayer God most waits to hear.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
I did a radio show on this very topic about doubt. People doubt God because of their past experiences with themselves. They think God is going to do it the way they expect. There trust is broken so many don't trust so they don't trust God as well and that is why many doubt God at His word. But if they come and taste and see how good He is they will never doubt God. People have to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in their lives.
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