“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’” (Matthew14:13 NIV)

           Do you ever doubt?  Doubt is a state of mind where you feel uncertain, wavering, or hesitant about believing something.  In everyday life, it acts like a mental pause button when you lack full confidence in a fact, a person, or a decision.

           Things we can doubt: our self-worth, we often question if we are smart, capable, or talented enough to succeed.  Major life decisions such as ending a relationship, a career change, or even moving.  We can doubt the intentions of others.  We sometimes wonder if partners, friends, or colleagues are truly genuine, or if they have hidden motives.  We at times doubt the future and our financial stability, our health, or whether things will ultimately turnout.  We can even doubt or question our core spiritual values and beliefs.  

           In this scripture, Peter begins to walk out upon the water toward Jesus—then doubt assails him and he begins to sink.  Jesus reaches out his hand and grabs Peter and lifts him up.  Then Jesus says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt.” And Jesus thinks, “I am here with you.  Believe, we’ve got this.”

           Life happens.  Challenges occur.  Things go well and things go bad, circumstances change.  And we fall down.  But with Jesus we can get up again.  We can grab on to him, and He will lift us up from the messiness of life. And we will find peace, strength, courage, hope, and unexpected support right in the middle of a difficult situation. Today, the challenge is not to lose faith.  Remember Jesus is there, just grab on and hold on tight, for this too will pass and the storm of life will quiet down.  God Bless.  Amen.

denise