“Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and lifted him up and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?” ~ Matthew 14:31 (TPT)
REFERENCE:
Matthew 14:22-33
We are in constant battle with doubt; doubt and faith try to get control over our lives, and I can tell you that doubt is an aggressive contender. It goes for the jugular; it aims to suffocate your faith and break your gaze from God. Doubt has many weapons in his arsenal – bad news, open-ended questions, painful experiences, stories of people’s failures, or adverse medical reports.
When Peter took the courage to walk on the water like Jesus, he did take some steps as long as his eyes (of faith) were kept on Jesus, the source and finisher of our faith. But all the while, there was an internal battle raging—Peter was in a serious contest with fear. Doubt deployed the high waves and boisterous wind as weapons against Peter. Jesus could discern the raging battle and was watching to see if Peter would win or let doubt win. Sadly, this fierce battle favored doubt.
Peter’s loss to doubt was evidenced in the fact that he, who earlier was walking on water, was now sinking. Peter did not lose because he considered the winds and waves but because he looked away from Jesus. The essence of all the storms, struggles, or situations that doubt throws you is to break your focus from Jesus. Doubt is the same thing as looking away from Jesus, and the best way to fight doubt is not head-on; it is to look to Jesus.
What weapons of doubt presently assail you? Don’t let doubt win. Are you going low on money and high on bills? Are you sinking into a pile of debts? Is attaining your marital, occupational, or career target becoming unattainable? These are all phony; the objective is to take your eyes off Jesus. Don’t let doubt win; stay with God and His word. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
God has brought you too far to fail or let you sink in a storm. The God who helped you take your first step when you boldly stepped out to walk on water is on hand to help you with your future steps. If you are sinking, He can help you if you call out to him. Don’t let doubt win; Jesus is on your team; you have God’s word and the support of other believers. Just as Peter got to the other side, you will reach the end of your mission. You will finish well.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Hebrews 12:2, James 1:6, and Matthew 21:21
PRAYER:
+ I will intentionally ensure that doubt does not win over me, in Jesus’ name.
+ Lord, give me the discipline to keep my eyes on Jesus, no matter what situation I find myself in.
+ I commit to walk by faith and not by sight.
