Sink the doubt....

Among the miracles that Jesus performed, the one that has always fascinated me the most is one that isn't even considered a miracle by most people.  In Matthew 14, the story is told of Jesus walking on the water, and Peter wanting to go to him.  It is a fascinating look at the crushing nature of self-doubt, and speaks loud and clear to me about where our faith should be focused.

The idea of walking on water is a visually powerful image of purity, goodness and light.  Because we are imperfect creatures, we constantly engage in self-sabotage.  Whenever we think, I would like to do X or Y, but I can't, we are predetermining our own failure before we even start.  How many opportunities have we missed in life, simply because we didn't dare to dream we could succeed?

Peter trusted God initially, and without thinking stepped boldly forward from the safety of the boat to the water's surface.  He strode with confidence towards his Teacher, at least until he thought about it.  Then he realized he could not walk on water.  He began to sink, crying out to his Lord to save him.

It is human nature to doubt ourselves - Jesus knew the power of the negative thought as well as anyone.  But the lesson we learn from Peter is that by keeping our eyes on the higher plane, by staying focused on our faith and our Lord, we will be able to do the impossible.  This is the traditional message of this passage, and it's an important and positive one for us.

However, there is another message within this chapter that speaks even more personally to me.  It is in my nature to question, to challenge; in short, to doubt.  I am not a negative person by inclination.  I am, however, a realist, and I like to examine all the possibilities before I do anything and accumulate all the knowledge I can, so I will be prepared for whatever happens.  Quite often, this has prevented me from taking the chances I wanted to in life, and I have missed out on opportunities, not because I wasn't able to do them, but because I got in my own way.

The good news, however, is that Jesus understands this about us, and is there with a helping hand.  In Matthew 14:31 we read,

"Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'"  (TNIV)

What powerful words those are for us as Christians.  When we doubt ourselves, as surely we will, Jesus will be there with a hand for us.  When we fail ourselves, he will never fail us.  We need only reach out and grasp the proffered assistance, and we will be saved from our own self-destruction.

This is a basic promise of God to each one of us.  He has demonstrated over and over his willingness to pull us up out of the lake of sin which washes over each of us in this worldly existence.  Just as Jesus reached out for the struggling Peter, he reaches out for each one of us.

No matter how many times we doubt, no matter how many times we sink, no matter how many times we fail to achieve our best, God is always for us, and always there.  I find peace and comfort knowing the hand of God is but a reach away from my fingertips.

I pray that each person who reads this message will find the same reassurance in God's presence, no matter whether they are on top of the water, or sinking beneath it.  God is there for the failures, and he spent his earthly time with prostitutes and tax collectors, the cast off members of society who needed him most.  He welcomed a criminal into the Kingdom as as he hung dying on the cross.  He will welcome you, too.

So get out of your boat of false security, keep your eyes on God, and reach for the hand of Jesus when you feel your ankles getting wet.  The only real safe haven is in the arms of God, and you cannot get there without reaching towards him.