Devotionals

Matthew 14:22-31: “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

The Scriptures above finds the disciples in the middle of a storm. It says, “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.’” The disciples were scared, both by the storm and by this man walking on the water. Jesus spoke to them saying, “Be not afraid.” Peter asked Jesus to bid him to come to Him on the water if He truly was the Lord. When Jesus bid him to come, Peter started out on the water in faith, strong and ready to follow the Lord’s command. As he walked a little farther, Peter became afraid of the circumstances around him and began to sink. Peter started out in the will of God, but he ended up in fear and doubt. God had given him the power to walk on water, but Peter allowed his insecurities to overcome God’s will.

Many times we respond to God’s will for our own lives just like Peter did. We are eager to know God’s will for our lives, but we are afraid to act on it. Even if we do find the faith to begin the journey, we often let those voices of doubt discourage us. “Are you sure this is really the right thing to do?” “Are you ready for all of this?” “Are you sure that was God telling you to go in this direction?” Doubt begins to set in, and we lose all hope that we will ever really know the will of God for our lives.

God can restore our hope if we will learn to seek Him in our state of doubt. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Don’t give up on God’s will; follow in faith! 

We can learn great lessons on how to deal with our doubt through today’s passages of Scripture. Why do you think Peter began to sink? He failed to deal with his fear.

Can you relate to Peter? Are you failing to deal with your fear?  

Study 2 Timothy 1:7. What does it say about fear?

Fear always causes doubt. Peter saw the waves, felt the winds, and became intimidated by their force. Instead of trusting Jesus when He told Peter to “be not afraid,” Peter gave in to his own fears. Peter failed to deal with his fears, and the doubts of his mind began to control him. Peter began to sink. How could Peter have dealt with this fear? All he had to do was say, “Jesus, I’m afraid. The winds are boisterous and the waves are high, but I’m going to just keep my eyes on you. I have faith in You to walk on this water.”

Is your fear causing you to doubt?

Name one way you know you could deal with your fear and doubt.    

Peter was intimidated by his circumstances as much as he was by his fears. In Peter’s mind, he could not see that God was greater than the wind and waves. For one brief moment, he forgot that Jesus had bid him to come. Therefore, he allowed his circumstances to control him instead of depending on Jesus to see him through the storm.

What circumstances are intimidating or controlling you?

Do you doubt that God is greater than your circumstances? God cares about your doubts, fears, and circumstances. He promises to be with you always, and He wants to comfort you with the words, “be not afraid.” He is the same God to you that He was to Peter. He understands that doubt weakens your faith and confidence in Him. Don’t be afraid to go to God with your doubts. He knows them already. We must never forget that God is all-knowing. God wants us to confess our doubts to Him. That’s what Peter did when he cried, “Lord save me (Matthew 14: 30).”

Did Peter’s lack of faith disappoint Jesus? Did Jesus know beforehand that Peter’s faith would waver?(Matthew 14:26)

How did Jesus deal with Peter’s doubt? (Matthew 14:31)

Just as Jesus stretched forth His hand in the midst of Peter’s doubt, He stretches it forth to you in the midst of your doubts, as well. This experience of doubt taught Peter more about Jesus than he ever knew before. Peter stayed with Jesus instead of beating himself down with a sense of failure, and the Lord used Peter in a mighty way. If you want a new desire, deal with your doubt and move forward in your courtship with Christ Jesus—just like Peter did.

You are the one who controls the level of courtship you have with Jesus. If you constantly battle doubt, then your courtship is not very stable. Jesus knows your heart. Jesus already knows about all of the doubts, fears, and confusion going on inside of you. Do not become a victim of doubt; do not let it hinder your courtship with Christ. The Holy Spirit is wooing you to God’s truths and to God’s love for you through this study. I remind you again of the three elements that make up the courtship:

• The meeting—Go to Christ just as you are.
• The attraction—Give to Him your whole heart.
• The wooing—Persuade Him with a life of righteousness.

Taken from Dr. Brenda Robinson's "A New Desir Workbook" Day 3 Dealing with Doubt

• 2 Comments
• Tags: attraction, courtship, doubt

• Posted by: Dr. Brenda Robinson