Doubting God

Doubt

“Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and beginning to doubt, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’  Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

                                  Matthew 14:29-31

“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

                                  C.S. Lewis

         Of all the disciples, Peter was the one most likely to take the leap, to risk everything, but usually also the first to tuck tail and run.  He was both doubter and believer.  When you read the Bible, you find that most of the prophets and forbears were people who questioned God’s intentions and harbored doubts.  Remember Moses?  How he stood there and argued with a burning bush in the middle of nowhere—I mean, who else but God speaks from a burning bush?  Even the grandfather of all the tribes, Abraham, laughed when he was told that Sarah would produce a child in her old age.  And we won’t even get into Jonah and his whale.  Most religious people today are people of doubt, too.  Doubt goes along with mystery.  And God is nothing if not mysterious.

         Voltaire is quoted as saying, “Doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous.”  I am always suspicious of someone who talks about Jesus as though he were riding in their pocket.  I prefer good ol’ Peter, who doubted, was honest about his doubt, and yet took the risk anyway.  That’s what we do in the face of great mystery.  We don’t know what will happen, we don’t know what God’s plan is, we don’t know whether it will be painful or not, but we step out in faith anyway.  We trust without knowing. 

         Notice what Peter does in his moment of sinking doubt.  He asks for help.  And we are told that immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter.  When in doubt, ask for help.  It doesn’t mean that you will like the help that’s given.  Sometimes God’s idea of what is best and our idea of what is best are not the same.  So don’t ask for God’s help, unless you’re prepared to take what you get.  Doubt is not the enemy.  It is only the human dilemma.  When we act, even though we doubt—that is faith.

                                 

                                  Keep the faith,

                                  Jane