02/01/2015 - WHY SHOULD WE DOUBT?

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And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14.31

Doubting the Lord God is more serious than we think. He is the Truth and there is no fault in Him. When He speaks, He expresses all His fullness, and thus, He must be accepted as the Unfailing One. When He shows us His will, attending our requests, He reveals Himself. Therefore, not fulfilling what He has given us as a commandment is the same as declaring that we do not take Him seriously, or that we do not trust in Him.

What is man that the Lord might be mindful of him (Heb 2.6)? Truly, we fail all the time. However, He created us at His image and likeness, with a purpose that we still do not fully know. Yet even with Adam’s fall, the Lord was not defeated, but elaborated the redemption plan. His plan was not so that we should be able to rise by ourselves, but that we might be saved by His grace.

What happened in the Sea of Galilee was greater than what we imagine. Jesus had ordered the disciples to go before Him to the other side of the sea. Then, after sending the multitudes away and praying, He saw the disciples going through difficulties to reach their destiny. Thus, He walked over the waters. When they saw Him, they were afraid, but the Master calmed them, telling them not to fear, for He was there.

Impetuously, Peter challenged that if He was truly the Master, that He ordered him to go over the waters with Him. When the apostle received a favorable answer, he leaped off the boat and also walked over the waters. However, when he saw the wind and what it was doing, he was afraid and began to sink. He shouted for help and was attended, but was also rebuked for his doubt.

This narration can teach us many valuable lessons. Peter was not fully believing in the Word of Jesus, since he used the word if. This shows that God answers us even if we do not believe with all of our hearts. It is possible to make the impossible – walk over waters, overcome problems – and then right after, lose everything, even life itself. God is merciful, but he is angered with our weaknesses.

Check if you have given proper attention to what the Lord says. If you ask him with doubt, you can even be attended, but afterwards, perhaps you might not have the necessary faith to keep walking over the waters (your problems) or to finish building the tower. Thus, you will sadden the Father’s heart. Strive to be a servant according to the heart of the All-Powerful. The scepter has been outstretched to you.

Certainly, we are men of little faith. Why shouldn’t we ask to be fed with the Word, which will make our faith develop? We only have now to make it happen. In order to have more faith, make good use of your time so that the Lord might help you, through prayer, reading and meditating on the Word.

 

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares