"Why Did You Doubt?"

 

Good morning sweet friends.

Let's take a deep breath and reason together before the Lord.

Let's remember what we know to be true....

The Lord reigns.

He is always in complete control.

He will be with us and guide each moment of this day.

All He allows will bring Him glory and work out for the good of His children who trust in Him.

Let's make a conscious choice this moment to trust in God rather than man.

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we trust in the Name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7

If we falter in trust and begin to doubt that God is mighty to save, or if we mistakenly lean upon an arm of flesh to be our strength and defender, we will  be "driven and tossed by the wind" as James 1:6 reminds us.

This is the moment our faith must steady itself and rest solely on Christ the solid Rock.

We may be called into a long and arduous battle.   This is not an uncommon situation for God's children and God has prepared us for such a time as this.

Victory comes by following His lead. We must focus on Him and not the sounds of the battle.

Remember......Peter walked on the water toward Jesus until he "saw the wind and became afraid."

Do you recall that situation?  

A storm arose on the sea. The dear disciples in the boat were having a rocky ride. The  Lord came walking toward them on the water. Poor hearts! In the midst of the storm and noise they scream out in fear that a ghost is coming!  We can only imagine the pandemonium. 

Jesus calls to them to take courage and not to be afraid. He reassures them that it is Him and to cheer up.

Peter....impetuous Peter....shouts out, "Lord, if it's You command me to come to You on the water."

Come....says the Lord.

Come join Me in walking on top of the wild waves in the middle of the crashing noisy sea!

So......Lo and behold! Dear, impetuous Peter jumps over the boat, and begins walking on the water to Jesus!!

Oh..the wonder, joy, adventure and beauty of walking with Jesus!

He calls us to walk victoriously in the midst of the storm.

Can't you just see the wonder and joy in Peter's face as he experiences this miraculous victory?!

Looking straight at Jesus he jumps overboard and begins to walk toward Him.

Hallelujah! What a moment!

But wait....what's that noise? 

Something distracts Peter's focus from the Lord's face.

He saw something. 

Let's ponder this word, for the whole scene changes because of this word.

He saw......

What did Peter see?

He saw the wind.

Selah......as the Bible says. Pause here.

He saw the wind was boisterous....noisy and stormy.

What??

Didn't he "see" this before he jumped overboard and began joyfully walking toward Jesus?

Yes...yes he did. He was quite aware of the storm and just a moment before was screaming with the others that a ghost was walking toward the boat.

Oh Peter! Dear Peter. Thank you for being so human.....for being so much like the rest of us.

And Lord Jesus.....thank you for loving your little children as we are.

Poor Peter. He no longer "sees" the mighty God who walks on water and calls His children to run to Him in faith and adventure.

Peter suddenly "sees" something other than his Savior.

He sees the noise and violence of the waves.

He begins to sink and drown.

"Lord!" He cries out. ...Lord save me!!

Immediately.....

Jesus reaches out and saves dear Peter.

"Why did you doubt?" He asks his child.

And when they got back in the boat the wind ceased.

What do you "see" today?

May I gently suggest that we "see" what we choose to look at.

Are we allowing our gaze upon the Savior's face to be broken?"

It only takes a quick glance at the waves for us to begin sinking.

I looked at some waves yesterday and it was enough to teach me anew that I'm to keep my eyes on my Savior.

I cannot calm the waves.

I didn't create the waves.

It's best I don't "see" them more than I "see" Jesus.

It's a rough sea out there today. The forecast is for the storm to grow wilder and more ferocious.

A dear friend reminded me yesterday that as she saturates her mind in God's Word and sings Psalms her heart can rest.

She has chosen not to look at the waves right now. She is in the chambers with her Savior. He is directing her to be still and know Him rather than to know the storm.

Be still and know that He is God.

He has provided a resting place for us away from the storm....