Why did you doubt?
Leslie Barrowcliff
The oft-quoted words of Lord Tennyson “More things are wrought by
prayer than this world dreams of,” are true: for prayer is faith in action.
Faith
is practical. It works! It works because it is of divine origin. Its source is God, The Creator and preserver
of all things visible and invisible, the God of truth and holiness.
The
miracle of Jesus walking on the sea through the dark and stormy night gives us
an insight into the operative power of faith.
Our Lord Himself exercised faith when He walked on the water toward His
storm-pressed disciples.
He
had sent them over the sea of Galilee while He
dismissed the miraculously-fed multitude.
Before rejoining them He went to prayer.
Meanwhile, a storm blew up and His disciples were hard put to it to row
the ship to land. Seeing their distress,
Jesus went to them. The heaving,
rolling, swelling sea beneath His feet was as firm to Him as the mountains
behind Him. But those tempest-tossed
fishermen had never seen before what they now beheld – a man walking on the
sea! In their alarm they cried out,
thinking it was some strange spirit.
Whereupon Jesus calmly answered, “Be of good cheer, it is I; be not
afraid.”
Peter, however did not believe his eyes or ears: but his ready mind
challenged, “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come to thee on the water.” “Come,” was the reply. Peter did not draw back, but instantly
stepped out of the ship on to the sea and began to walk toward the Master. The faith which Peter then exercised was
based on the word of Christ, “Come.”
Realising it was indeed the Master, Peter had
no hesitation in obeying. The mighty
miracle took place before Peter realised what he was doing – walking on the
water!
But
when he did realise what he was doing, and saw the surging sea around him,
Peter turned from trusting Jesus to fearing what he felt! Immediately his courage failed him. His heart sank, his faith sank, his feet
sank, and his cry went up “Lord, save me!”
It
was not only a cry of fear, it was also a cry of
faith. Impetuous Peter did not calculate
the odds of getting back into the ship.
He just wanted saving. The
shortest way back into the ship was forward toward Jesus. For as he cried the Lord put forth His hand
and lifted him into the ship. “Wherefore
didst thou doubt?” said
He; and in that measureless moment Peter learned that faith in Christ works,
works wondrously. Not only was he back
in the ship, but straightway they were at their desired haven.
How
often do we step out and find ourselves in danger. It may be we have followed the way the Lord
has called us, yet we have found ourselves hemmed-in on every side as did
Peter, as did the captive Joseph, as did Daniel in the lions’ den, as did
Elisha’s servant in Dothan; and like that servant we have forgotten that God is
always in control everywhere. He rules
the heavens, He rules the earth, He rules the seas; He rules the nations and
the minds of men. He is in complete
control of everything. The storms may
rage around us, the place of safety seem far off from us, but the comforting,
calm and confident voice of Jesus calls us, “Come.” And we can safely heed His Word.
The
pathway
Satan
may strike fear into your heart, may repeatedly assert you are on the wrong
track; but go on as God leads you: it is the path He has planned for you. Have faith in God. Mistrust your fears, but do not doubt the
Lord. The words of the hymnwriter are
very encouraging in times like this:
When sorrows and storms are besetting my
track,
And Satan is whispering, “You’d better
turn back”,
How oft I have proved it, though dark be
the way,
A little believing drives all clouds
away.
A
little believing! A little faith as a grain of mustard seed. Have you been doubting? Let not your doubting heart fear He will ever
forget you. Take the out-stretched
nail-pierced Hand, and believe His love for you. His grace toward you, His precious blood
outpoured for you, are all you need. You
will find yourself once more in the ship; yea, more, you will find yourself
safe on the farther shore!