Boy, what a week!  The past nine days have been a complete whirlwind.  From moving to a new city, unpacking my new office, starting a new homeschool endeavor with our kids, making hospital and home visits, and everything else in between, it seems that we still haven’t adjusted to the new normal.  Since the days are so hectic, we are just in survival mode right now.  As a result, most of my thinking about our new environment comes in the evening. 

Unfortunately, along with the quiet stillness of a sleeping family, the night also brings fear and sometimes even doubt.  “Did we do the right thing?  I miss our friends.  The kids miss their friends.  Are we making a difference?”  I feel shame for even thinking such ridiculous things, and as I pray to the Lord and come to the office the next morning, the Lord’s calling on our lives and in our hearts is confirmed.  But every now and then, when the darkness comes….

As I think about the doubt in my own life, I am reminded of the Apostle Matthew’s account of when Peter walked on the water.  Matthew 14:28-32 recounts this beautiful tale, but allow me to summarize, though you probably know it well.  The apostles are out in a boat on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus walks on the water towards them.  Enter Peter, whom we know to be the brash hot-headed, often ill-tempered disciple.  Peter says to Jesus, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  After Jesus gives the command, Peter actually begins walking on the water!  Amazing!  Try to imagine being Peter for just a moment.  One moment you are out on a boat looking at your Master do something that is a physical impossibility, the next moment you are looking at Him as you are doing the exact same thing! 

Of course, you know what happened next.  The wind began to blow and Peter’s faith crumbled under the weight of his doubt and he cried out to Jesus to save him, which of course He did.  Preachers and teachers always use this story as an object lesson to “keep your eyes on Jesus” and “never doubt the Master”.  Those things are certainly true and I would not discount them, but the fact of the matter is that, at some point in our journeys as Christians, we all have doubts.  Whether they come in the quiet stillness of the night or in the midst of a crowded sanctuary, they still come.  If they haven’t yet, trust me, they will. 

So what do we do about this?  It’s funny to me that we all bash Peter in this instance because of his lack of faith.  I look at it a bit differently.  Yes, Peter did take his eyes off of Jesus and let his fear overcome his faith, but at the point that he realized he was sinking, at least he had the good sense to cry out to the One that knew could and would save him. 

See, Peter’s faith wasn’t gone; it was just temporarily rattled.  He could have tried to swim.  He could have even called to the other disciples in the boat.  But he didn’t.  He cried “Lord, save me”.  When the doubts of your life and my life come, let us not be ashamed of them, but let us cry out to the One that we know can save us.  Even though our faith might sometimes be rattled, don’t let the doubts of life overtake you.  Cry out to Jesus.  I promise you that His hand is strong enough to pull you up. 

I am blessed beyond measure to be your pastor and am looking forward to the journey.

Till Next Week,

Pastor JP