Why Did You Doubt?

So, He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? 

Matthew 14:29-31 

We have our doubts. None of us is without them. They surface in our difficult moments. Great people of faith have had them at various times. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, and Job all reflect doubt at various moments of their spiritual walk. Peter had adventured himself to request that Christ permit him to walk on the water. Christ bid him come to Him. Peter stepped out and, for a few moments, carried on bravely. Eventually, the magnitude of the situation overcame him. He saw the wind and waves were boisterous and he began to sink. He cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus reached down and grasped him by the hand, pulling him up to safety, saying, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ One thing which is worth considering is, this was a private conversation between two friends, a Teacher and His student. They were away from the boat in the midst of the storm. In order for Matthew to record it, Peter would have had to tell him what Christ had said. Also, this was not a beratement, as much as it was a teaching moment. Peter had shown some faith, more than the others, and Jesus was teaching him to have more faith. Christ does the same for us. We have demonstrated some faith, have at times struggled, and He has taught us to have more faith. He will continue to teach us as we walk with Him.  

Our Good and Wise Savior, 
we rejoice that You teach us along the way. 
We praise You that You seize the moment, 
to teach us to have more faith. 

Tomm Tice

Where the Bush is Burning