How many times have you encountered some circumstance in your life that caused you to doubt your faith? We like to think that we are all locked in, that we will always remain steadfast, never stumble in our faith, but that’s unrealistic. There are moments of doubt and struggle in everyone’s life. Or maybe it’s just me; maybe I’m the only one who wonders why it seems like my prayers don’t always get answered. Am I the only one who sometimes worries about where the money will come from? It would be wonderful to have staunch unshakable faith, but let’s face it, we’re people.
We read about the Heroes of Faith in Hebrews Chapter 11 and we think, “I could never measure up to that standard,” because we have these crises of faith. But even those that were with Jesus, had their moments of doubt and confusion.
Matthew 14:24-33
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
In the Middle of the Storm
Here we see the apostles, out in the midst of the sea, tossed by waves, caught up in a storm that has blown up. Here’s the reference to that storm in Mark’s Gospel:
Mark 6:48
48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
And John’s:
John 6:18
18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.
So they are in the midst of a great struggle. They’re battling for their lives, no doubt they’re afraid. And in the middle of that Jesus walks up to them.
This is an interesting picture of our lives isn’t it. How often does it feel like what you’re going through is a storm? There’s the feeling of a lack of control, there’s the fear and anxiety, the confusion of the storm. You’re straining and fighting the best you can but what is your strength compared to the power of a storm. The apostles are toiling at rowing; they’re fighting it out. They’re depending on their strength to maintain direction in the midst of this storm. That’s the predicament we find ourselves in when things go wrong in our finances, our marriages, at our job and in our families. Have you ever heard the expression, “I’m trying to keep my head above water.” We feel like we could sink at any moment. If you ever find yourself in a storm in a small boat you will recognize that emotion.
It is when we are caught up in these storms that well up in our lives that we lose direction. Have you ever noticed that it is much easier to believe God and to trust in God when things are going well? It is when things go wrong that fear and doubt overtake us. That’s when we begin to doubt God and his promises. We begin to struggle with the question, “Why has God forsaken me?” People backslide in these kinds of “wilderness experiences.” And yet it is also in the midst of these circumstances and storms when Jesus comes to us. Think about the moment you repented and gave yourself to Jesus. Was it while things were going well in life, or had all hell broken loose?
Matthew 14:25
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
In the midst of the storm He comes walking out to them. He comes on the scene. It’s interesting that they don’t recognize Him.
Matthew 14:26
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Sometimes when He’s working in our lives, when He’s doing something to build our character or our faith, we don’t recognize that it’s him. How many times has something gone wrong in your life and you said, “The devil is attacking me?” How do you know it’s the devil and not Jesus trying to bring about some change in your life?
How does God change us? Is character built during times of crisis or times of blessing? Many years ago I worked at a vocational training facility for mentally challenged people. There were many times when I felt that I needed more patience. The people that worked there had been pampered; they’d never had to do anything they didn’t want to do. But a job isn’t like that; often you have to what you don’t feel like doing. So I began to rpay for patience and guess how God taught me patience. He brought every circumstance where it would require patience on my part before me. I learned to be patient by going through a lot of situations where I had to be patient. That’s how God works.
We learn character not through blessing but through trial. We are refined like silver or gold. Gold and silver are made pure by going through extreme heat so the impurities can float to the top and be scraped off: So many times when we’re going through it the devil isn’t attacking us, God’s refining us. We don’t even recognize his hand on us, and the fear and doubt overtake us. The apostles thought he was ghost, “and they cried out in fear.”
Notice also that Jesus waited to come to them. He didn’t come in the beginning of the storm He waited. He came in the fourth watch. In Roman times guard duty was set up in four watches in a night. If He came in the fourth watch, He came when it was close to morning. He didn’t come in the beginning of the storm. He let them weather it out for a while, struggling, fighting, trying to get through it. Doesn’t it feel like that when we’re battling it out? That he’s left us alone to deal with it: That He’s gone off and just thrown us to the wolf? We call it a wilderness experience, and we feel like we’re all alone, but that’s not the case.
Mark 6:47-48
47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
In this scripture, we see that even though He wasn’t with them He was watching. He was showing an interest in their struggle. He was concerned about them in the storm. As we struggle with trials and afflictions, he is watching us. He’s interested in what we suffer. He cares about what we go through. He stands watching. In the same way he came to them and brought comfort: “Be of Good Cheer. Do not fear,” He will comfort us.
We understand that intellectually, so why is it so difficult for us to maintain our faith. Why do we struggle with fear and doubt?
Maintaining our Faith in a Crisis
Matthew 14:28-31
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Peter recognizes Jesus her for who He is as he is walking on the water and calls out to Him, “Tell me to come!” There is a faith here that Jesus can bring them through the storm. He believes that through Jesus he can walk on the water. But in the midst of all that’s happening, he begins to doubt and immediately starts to sink. Isn’t he just like us? We believe that we can see healing in Jesus’ name. That we can cast out demons in Jesus’ name. We believe that signs and wonder follow. We believe it all. We really believe it…until we don’t. We understand that we can do all those things, that we can see miracles. But when things are going crazy in our lives, it’s easy to lose that faith. “I believe that God can heal, but can he heal me.” “God can get us through storms, but can he deliver me?” It’s easy to keep the faith when things are calm, but when the storm is blowing; it’s a whole different ballgame.
Have you ever known a depressed Christian? Someone who looks at life as if the odds are stacked against him? Doesn’t that seem odd? I know a woman who is a Christian counselor and she is helping other Christians battle depression and other things. How can someone who is filled with faith and power struggle with depression? It happens when we lose sight of the power in our lives and begin to focus on the storm. That’s when we sink into depression. Peter becomes distracted and takes his focus off Jesus and immediately sinks.
You might think, “Well that’s Peter. After all he suffered a number of these types of faith crises.” What about the big one after the crucifixion, where he decides to go back to fishing? Peter placed all his faith in Jesus as the messiah, and now he’s been crucified. Peter thinks it’s all over. He didn’t see what was ahead all he saw was that jesus was crucified. He lost faith, went back to fishing. He lost faith in what God was really doing through all of that. He went back to his old life: He backslid in the midst of the trial.
Even Abraham, that hero of faith can lose it.
Hebrews 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
He’s called the friend of God because of his faith. He has a powerful testimony. He’s raised in a pagan nation, and yet when he hears the voice of God he recognizes Him and believes. He follows that voice out the a place where God promises to give that to his descendents. He’s a man of great faith. How many of us would recognize the call of God on our lives and get up and walk? How many of us would follow in Abraham’s circumstances? But do you think there were no moments of fear and doubt in Abraham’s life? Do you think he always carried a banner of great faith?
He follows God out to the land that God promises him. He believes God for that promise. He builds an altar to honor God. But a short time later there’s a drought and they travel down to Egypt, and Abraham tells his wife, “Tell them you’re my sister so they won’t kill me.” What happened to the faith? Where’s the great faith? The promise hasn’t been fulfilled, it won’t be if you die in Egypt…so where’s that great faith now? If this hero of faith suffers a crisis like that, how much more will average Joes like us suffer it?
The Antidote to Fear and Doubt
Matthew 14:30-31
30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Cry out to him and He will reach into the storm of your life and hold you above the swirling waters. As peter sank into the sea he cried out and Jesus reached into his life and caught him, because he cried out. He pulled him from the sea. As we cry out in the midst of fear and doubt he will pull us from the storm as well. He is the one who saves. He is the antidote to fear and doubt. His presence in our lives will bring calm.
Matthew 14:32-33
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
That was the end of that storm in their lives, but does that mean they never encountered another storm, another moment of fear or of doubt? Of course not!
We see Thomas in his moment of doubt after Jesus rises from the dead. We see the disciples locked in the upper room for fear of the Jews. We see Peter’s doubt and confusion and he curses in denial of Jesus. In each case, though, we see a response from a personal and loving God. Thomas sees jesus who has him touch his wounds, so that he can believe. The disciples hear a rushing, mighty wind and receive the comforter, the Holy Spirit. Peter sees Jesus on the shore of Tiberius, where He bestows on him the mantle of His ministry, with the words, “Feed my sheep.”
We all experience moments of fear and doubt, but they don’t have to destroy us. We can find the antidote, in Jesus, and allow him to calm the storms in life.
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