Did He Say That?
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said. (Matt 14:25-29)
Take a minute and try to think of all the reasons why Peter might’ve hesitated in leaving the boat.
- Did Jesus just tell me it was OK to leave the boat?
- Did He actually say that, or am I just hearing what I want Him to say?
- Do I want to walk on the water because I want to please Him, or am I being prideful?
- Is He aware that there’s a storm happening right now?
There are always reasons to doubt and that’s why, regardless of the decision you’re getting ready to make, to some extent, you’re going to have to trust in Him.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Heb 11:6)
And while decisions are pretty easy to make, other decisions represent life altering consequences. But regardless of what’s at stake, the principle is always the same: If you’re going to walk on water, you’ve got to trust in Him.
You’re Never Going to Know
Some want to be able to take an inventory of their motives and ensure their intentions are pure…
The heart is deceitful above all thing and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer 17:9 [see also Ps 51:5])
Some don’t want to move forward without being able to know all of what’s getting ready to happen…
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life…Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 7:27, 34)
Some want to be able to have complete confidence in discerning God’s direction for their lives…
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom 7:21-25)
Neither your intellect nor your intentions are immune to the influence of sin. That’s why faith is so important because it’s only His Voice and His Strength that’s going to prove be both dependable and accurate.
You have God’s “Word” that He will guide your thoughts and your actions…
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Ps 143:8)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov 3:5-6)
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom 8:6)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom 12:1-2)
Pack, Don’t Predict
Imagine you’re getting ready to go to the beach for a long weekend. You’re going to pack based on the amount of time you’re going to be there and the things you plan to do.
If you try to anticipate everything that might happen, not only do you wind up with an outrageous amount of luggage, but there’s a chance you may never leave your house because of your inability to predict all that may occur while you’re gone.
God asks us to pack (Prov 11:14). He never asks us to predict.
He’s always willing to give us direction (Jas 1:5), but He rarely gives us a full description of all that we can expect. He didn’t tell Abraham where he was headed, He didn’t tell Moses how the Red Sea was going to part, He didn’t tell Gideon how he was going to defeat the Midianites, and He didn’t tell Joseph that this son would be born in a stable.
He just told them to pack.
You Always Have a Reason
As long as you’re a part of the human race, you will have both the capacity and the inclination to doubt. You’re never going to be able to remove every question mark. As certain as you may be, or as obvious as the situation may appear, there will always be something to justify a reason to stop, wait, hesitate, or doubt.
Even a burning bush wasn’t enough to convince Moses that he would succeed (Ex 4:13). Paul had seen Christ alive, but was still able to feel completely overwhelmed by circumstance that appeared hopeless (2 For 1:8-10).
And Peter had heard Jesus say it was alright to step out of the boat. But the moment he was able to take a logical inventory of his surroundings, he found all kinds of reasons to second guess his decision.
You will always have a reason to doubt, but, more importantly, you will always, have a reason to trust in Him.
It’s wise to confirm God’s Direction in your life (1 Jn 4:1). But if you’re ever going to walk on water – if you’re going to be obedient and realize God’s Purpose for whatever lies on the other side the decision you need to make – that first step is going to require some faith.
Too often we get distracted by the default uncertainty that accompanies our attempts to answer the question “How do I know?”
Perhaps the question you need to be asking yourself is, “Why do I doubt?”
Pack.
Don’t Predict.
On occasion, I’ll see a question posted in Quora and I’ll feel compelled to respond, just because the comments and responses are often devoid of any real attempt to push back against what amounts to a bogus conclusion.
