Faith Mixed With Fear

Lenten Devotional Day 9

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:28-33

Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am a procrastinator.  I might tell myself I work better under pressure,  but the truth is I’m afraid of failure.  I plan projects out in my mind or make plans on paper, hoping that when I get started it will be perfect.  Yet if I don’t take that first step it is impossible for me to succeed.  

The disciples had been fighting a storm all night.  As the waves crashed against their boat,  they realized Jesus was walking toward them – across the water! Peter asked Jesus to call to him that he should walk out toward Jesus.  And for a moment Peter was walking on water.  However, when he took his eyes off Jesus, he started to sink.  But we shouldn’t be too quick to judge Peter’s faith. At least he took that first step.  He may have let fear get the best of him and allowed it to weaken his faith,  but the rest of the disciples were still in the boat.  They didn’t ask Jesus to call to them.  Peter was the brave one who stepped out of the sturdy boat into the dark, onto the waves.

Peter had a mixture of faith and fear. I think that describes most of us at times. We believe in God. We believe in His almighty power. But there are just some occasions in life we attempt to handle ourselves not relying on God, not having complete faith. Or we believe in God but we don’t believe in ourselves. In the book of Mark, when Jesus was healing a boy with an unclean spirit, the father said “I believe, help my unbelief.” I feel like that is a prayer I could start with each and every day.

“People who doubt are like waves of the sea. The wind blows and tosses them around.” (James 1:6b). If only we could have more faith. Jesus was there to reach out and pull Peter back up.  And he is there for us too.  Jesus has power over all things. There are no tasks or circumstances or projects or questions too small for Jesus or too big for His almighty power over all things. Jesus loves us, and will never let us down. We have to be willing to call out to Him and accept the path He gives us – even across stormy seas. We need to take that first step and keep our eyes on Him.

Personal Application Ideas:

Do you think you are more like Peter – ready to ask God to use you – or are you more like the other disciples who sat in the boat watching to see what would happen with Peter? The Bible says that it’s right to ask God for opportunities (Matthew 7:7).

Prayer

Dear Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Help me to keep my eyes on you and fully believe that you have the power to control all situations – big and small. And help me to believe in myself that through you I have the ability to accomplish your will. I ask you to use me to help those in need and in doing so bring others to you. Amen