Matthew 14:22-33 New American Standard Bible 1995
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately He [a]made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was already [b]a long distance from the land, [c]battered by the waves; for the wind was [d]contrary. 25 And in the [e] fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out [f]in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
He Saw the Wind, He Saw the Waves, and He Sank
The story of Peter’s attempt to walk on water is definitely one of my favorites.
Along with all the other disciples, Peter first fears the ghostly figure looming in the night, through the rain storm and walking on the waves toward their boat.
When Jesus reassures them that he is the one walking out there, courageously, quite impulsively Peter wants to be first to get in on a piece of the action too.
“Lord, tell me to come to you on the water,” he says. “Come,” invites Jesus.
Like a child taking his first tottering steps toward his parents, Peter gets out of the boat, against all the winds and the waves, walks toward Jesus on the water.
But when for but the briefest of moments, he gets distracted, he takes his eyes off Jesus and sees the wind and waves, the unsure Peter suddenly begins to sink.
So Jesus reaches out and catches him.
Then Jesus looks directly into his eyes and asks Peter, “Why did you doubt?”
I like this story so much because I know the same feeling of taking my eyes off Jesus and “seeing the wind,” feeling the weight of the crashing waves instead.
In the crushing weight of my doubts, when my thoughts are clearly elsewhere, I get distracted from faith so easily by my frustrations, insecurities, temptations.
In such burdened moments I can read this passage over and over again and I can relate to Peter, and thank God this story has been preserved in Scripture.
I also love how it turns out.
Jesus challenges Peter’s lack of faith, but then he lifts, helps him into the boat.
Peter gets a second chance, and he will also need more. I thank God for too the many second chances he has given me. My weakness is covered by his strength.
Leaning on His Everlasting Arms: Dealing With Doubt
Psalm 56 Complete Jewish Bible
56 (0) For the leader. Set to “The Silent Dove in the Distance.” By David; a mikhtam, when the P’lishtim captured him in Gat:
2 (1) Show me favor, God;
for people are trampling me down —
all day they fight and press on me.
3 (2) Those who are lying in wait for me
would trample on me all day.
For those fighting against me are many.
Most High, 4 (3) when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
5 (4) In God — I praise his word —
in God I trust; I have no fear;
what can human power do to me?
6 (5) All day long they twist my words;
their only thought is to harm me.
7 (6) They gather together and hide themselves,
spying on my movements, hoping to kill me.
8 (7) Because of their crime, they cannot escape;
in anger, God, strike down the peoples.
9 (8) You have kept count of my wanderings;
store my tears in your water-skin —
aren’t they already recorded in your book?
10 (9) Then my enemies will turn back
on the day when I call;
this I know: that God is for me.
11 (10) In God — I praise his word —
in Adonai — I praise his word —
12 (11) in God I trust; I have no fear;
what can mere humans do to me?
13 (12) God, I have made vows to you;
I will fulfill them with thank offerings to you.
14 (13) For you rescued me from death,
you kept my feet from stumbling,
so that I can walk in God’s presence,
in the light of life.
Doubt can cast a shadow on our faith, causing us to question God’s faithfulness and promises.
But in the midst of bludgeoning doubt we can find assurance by anchoring ourselves in the unwavering truth of God’s Word.
Hebrews 6:17-20 New American Standard Bible 1995
17 [a]In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, [b]interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have [c]taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 [d]This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters [e]within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
When doubt arises, we turn to God in prayer, pouring out our hearts honestly.
As we read in the Psalms, We express our fears, uncertainties, and questions, knowing that the Lord welcomes our honesty.
In his presence we find reassurance, comfort, and the strength to persevere.
It’s very important to for each of us to remember that doubt is not a sign of weakness but an invitation for growth and maturity in the Lord our God alone.
It presents an opportunity to seek a deeper understanding of God’s character and of his plans for our lives.
We can lift our bibles up and find a host of encouragement in the testimonies of others who have experienced God’s faithfulness in the midst of all their doubts.
As we experience doubt, we hold fast to the promises of God.
We remind ourselves of his past faithfulness and lean on his unfailing love.
We ought to be inviting God as the praying Psalmist did to reveal himself to us, to increase our faith, dispel those shadows of doubt with the light of his truth.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Jesus, my eyes get distracted by the wind and waves instead of seeing you. Please, Lord, help me stay focused on you alone. I need your strength always. Faithful God, when I am in doubt, guide me to trust your unwavering faithfulness. Help me to bring all my doubts to you, seeking comfort. Increase my faith. Reveal yourself in profound ways. Grant me the strength to overcome my doubts and to walk in truth.
Psalm 23 Complete Jewish Bible
23 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 