Doubts, Doubts, Doubts

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith, he said, “Why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:31

Humans fall under the category of one of the weakest species under the sun. Why, you ask? Because, we can “reason.” Within the animal kingdom, the fight for survival is one of the strongest desires there is. The lion either hunts or it starves. Therefore, it hunts. There is no questioning to do. It is instinct for them to feel hunger and then quench the desire.

Humans, on the other hand, have the ability to reason. We ponder and think, wonder and question any needs we have. We can believe or we can doubt, and this is where we get into trouble. Our intentions start out good. We being by carrying a certain amount of confidence into a situation convinced we can be successful. Perhaps we even launch into a project feet first, overcoming obstacle after obstacle, when suddenly – we choose to doubt. Before we realize what has happened, we’ve begun to sink. Our faith and belief in what we were doing is gone. One would think our ability would make us strong. Rightfully so, it should. However, we allow our reasoning to set us up for failure.

Peter’s desire to walk to the Master on water was so great, he overcame his fear and doubt that walking on water was physically impossible. He trusted Jesus to provide and care for him. First one foot over the edge of the boat and then a second, allowing him to walk, eyes fixed on the target, toward Jesus. Only when he allowed himself to reason through the miracle he was experiencing, did he allow weakness and doubt to enter. Hence, he began to sink.

The power of Christ in our lives gives us the ability to overcome doubt and fear. When we turn our reasoning power from logical to Godly, then our spiritual success is definite. We allow ourselves to think we know more than the Father. “I can’t do that because” tends to be our answer to most of life’s challenges. Our desire to be spiritually successful falls to reasoning and doubt.

Jesus asks us to fix our eyes on Him, not to reason but to trust, and then to step upon the water and walk. Walking toward Him without question or reservation, believing He will bring us into His arms. Do you reason your way out of trust or do you fix your eyes on the Father and walk on water? Perhaps today is the day to start.

Prayer: Lord, when we fear and doubt, help us to fix our eyes on You.