When You're DiscouragedSample

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS

We can’t let discouragement keep us from believing God. His promises don’t change, so we shouldn’t either!

That’s what happened to Peter in Matthew 14. He and the other disciples were on a boat when Jesus came along, walking on the water. The other disciples thought he was a ghost!

But, when Jesus said, “It’s me, don’t be afraid,” Peter hollered, “Lord, if it’s You, I want to walk on water, too!” So Jesus said, “Come,” and based on that word from the Lord, Peter got out of the boat, and he walked on the water.

But, just as Peter started out, the wind began howling and waves started crashing, causing him to take his eyes off Jesus. He stopped holding fast to the word of the Lord (“Come”) and looked at the circumstances. So, he began to sink.

When Peter cried out, Jesus rescued him. But He didn’t say, “Congratulations, Peter, you walked on water!” No, Jesus said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

The word doubt has the same root as the word double. To doubt is to be double-minded or to believe two ways—first one way and then the other. In essence, Jesus was saying, “Peter, why did you change? You were double-minded. You stopped believing me and started believing the wind and waves.” Peter had big faith to get out of that boat, but he changed based on circumstances – he threw down his faith.

That happens to us, too. We start out strong in faith. But, when circumstances happen, we start believing what we see (or what we don’t see) - we get discouraged and stop believing the Word of the Lord.

If Peter had kept his eyes on Jesus, ignoring the wind and the waves, he would have made it to Jesus and to safety because wind and waves (circumstances) have nothing to do with walking on water! Think about it. Is water-walking possible? No. Even if water is smooth as glass, you can’t walk on it—you need supernatural help.

Likewise, you need supernatural help to win at life. What difference does it make if the waves are crashing and the wind is blowing? Instead of being discouraged, keep your eyes on Jesus and believe the Word more than the circumstances. Keep believing and don’t stop!

Did this plan help you? Check out Karen’s website for more teachings and materials to help you in your walk with God.