A STORM of DOUBT

“Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” Matthew 14:31 (CSB)

What if I don’t make it through? What if I lose everything?

A moody storm pressed northwest towards the North Carolina coast in 1996. Hurricane Fran experienced changes in the open waters, yet it intensified before striking North Carolina. Fran struck as a major hurricane, making landfall near Cape Fear, North Carolina.

As a sophomore at Mount Olive College, I chose to stay, to ride out the storm. Other friends made the same choice, but they lived near the coast from child- hood, so they knew what to expect. Curiosity directed my decision-making. The initial thrill of a storm approaching, however, deteriorated as quickly as the conditions outside. By 1 a.m. I silently doubted we would survive the night. The intense pressure of the storm caused the apartment building to creak. The wind tore the siding away, each piece clanging as it flew through the breezeway and off into the night.

Doubts arise in life. The wondering about our survival howls in our minds like gale-force winds.

The initial fear of Christ’s appearance amidst a howling storm gave way to boldness for one of the twelve disciples. “Call me out there, Jesus,” Peter shouted. Jesus called back. Courage filled Peter, and a timid first step became a journey to Jesus on the open water. All the others stayed in the boat. Peter stepped out.

Trouble arose once the emboldened follower shifted his focus. Peter took his eyes off Jesus. His courage crumbled when he looked at his own ability and the circumstances swirling around him. Doubts led to fear. And fear nearly led to a drowning.

On his own power, Peter’s first step would have resulted in his sinking. The fact he reached as far as he did on the open waters revealed the power of Christ. A normal man stepped out into the unknown as if it were natural. Yet, he took his eyes off how far he came in Christ and doubted what he could do on his own.

Just the slightest shift sank the disciple. He no longer heard the voice of Jesus, He listened to the voices inside that said, “You’ll never get there. You will perish. Man wasn’t made to walk on water.” The wrong voices pulled him down and, in a moment, Peter went from standing tall to slipping beneath the waves.

Panicked, he flailed his arms wildly. Crying out, he admitted his need for a Savior. Thankfully, the Savior stood on the waters nearby. Jesus reached out and took hold of the one who took his eyes off Jesus seconds earlier. When we read Peter’s story, we see how doubts affect every life, including ours.

Uncertainties storm into our lives. What begins with one doubt intensifies into a hurricane of questions and reservations that leaves us sinking when we once stood on a solid foundation. One hesitation pondered too long sets us up for failure.

Voices proclaim we cannot do what we are doing, or we are underequipped to accomplish what we need to do. Failure seems probable rather than merely possible. We are reminded of past failures. Others might ridicule us, especially if we fall. These doubts begin the downward spiral of a life called to walk on the water.

Storms arise when we focus only on what we can do, neglecting to believe what the Lord can do. If we assess only what we think we have, we face endless limitations. His power stands unrivaled and limitless. As the Lord has proven over time, He can do what man believes to be impossible.

The world tells us the first step to success is to believe in ourselves. Those words seem encouraging, but truthfully, we need to believe in more than ourselves. Our faith in God, and in His ability, silences the storm of doubt. Faith reminds us that God can do what we cannot. He holds the power to change lives, open doors, and overcome the very obstacles we face.

Replace the phrase “I can’t” with “God can.” When the impossibilities of life arise, turn to the confidence we have in the Lord. When storms of doubt threaten you, remember what the angel spoke to a young girl given life-altering news. As Mary wondered how, Gabriel promised, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 CSB)

On your own, doubt says the storm is impossible to survive. With God, we know the impossible becomes possible.

Storm Preparation

• How did Peter’s doubts disrupt his journey on the water?
• What are some of your doubts in life right now?
• How do you combat doubt and ride out the storm of doubt in life?
• Gabriel’s words to Mary gave inspiration. Why do those words matter to us when we face death in life?