What do you do when doubt creeps into your mind—about life, about God, about your faith?
What do you do when you’re standing firm in faith, only to feel uncertainty suddenly cloud your thoughts? What do you do when external circumstances shake you, but you don’t feel safe enough to ask your questions out loud?
Sometimes, we feel guilty or even ashamed. After all, if we’ve been Christians for years—attending church, reading the Bible, praying—shouldn’t our faith be strong? Shouldn’t we be unwavering, even in the storms of life? Last Saturday evening, we journeyed through Matthew 14:22-33 and saw what Jesus and His disciples taught us about navigating doubt.
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Solitude Before the Storm
Right after miraculously feeding 5,000 people, Jesus dismissed the crowd and told His disciples to go ahead in the boat. Then He went up the mountain. Why? To rest. He created solitude—for His disciples to rest and for Himself to be with the Father. We, too, struggle to rest when distractions surround us—especially the distractions in our minds. But Jesus shows us the importance of prioritising rest with God. A time to regenerate, replenish, recharge.
Before facing the storms of a day, we need to be still with God. It is beneficial to get Jesus in our heads before we get into our own heads.
Jesus Walks Toward Us in the Storm
Jesus spent a long time with God on the mountain. Then He walked on water toward His disciples. It was the fourth watch of the night (3–6 AM), a time known for heightened spiritual activity. In the pitch darkness, the disciples saw a figure approaching on the waves—and fear took over. They thought they were seeing a ghost. Doubt entered.And Jesus immediately responded: “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” The Bible keeps telling us “not to be afraid” hundreds of times. God knows it’s not easy handling tough situations on your own.
Peter was bold. He asked a question:“Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come to You on the water.” Peter chose well. He chose to move toward God rather than stay in fear. And that required action.
What Do You See?
Peter stepped out in faith. He walked on water—until he saw the wind.But we can’t see wind. We can only feel it. So why does Scripture say Peter saw the wind? Because what we focus on shapes our reality. Our eyes direct our steps. In skiing, your skis move toward where your gaze lands. The same is true in life. When Peter fixed his eyes on Jesus, he walked in faith. But when his focus shifted to the storm, he began to sink.
Perspective Matters
What do you see in this picture? Most of us will focus on the rich, oozing chocolate. But how many of us notice the white parts—the bun, the plate? We had this popular Bao Bao French Chocolate Lava Bao, and it was absolutely delicious! But as I looked at it, I couldn’t help but reflect—do we focus only on the oozing chocolate (the ‘darkness’ of life’s challenges), or do we also see the soft, fluffy bun that covers it (God’s embrace and protection)?
What we choose to focus on shapes our perspective. Choose wisely.
Peter focused on Jesus at first. Then the storm caught his attention, and doubt took hold. But even then, Peter did not let doubt keep him from calling out to Jesus: “Lord, save me!”And immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ⸻Jesus and the Disciples: A Parallel JourneyNotice how Jesus and His disciples mirror each other’s actions:
Jesus | Disciples/Peter |
Rested with the Father 🛐 | Rested in the boat ⛵ |
Went to the disciples 🚶 | Waited for Jesus 👀 |
Assured: “It is I. Do not be afraid.” 📢 | Questioned: “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come.” ❓ |
Invited: “Come.” 🤝 | Took a step of faith and walked on water 🚶 |
Reached out His hand ✋ | Called out: “Lord, save me!” 📣 |
Saved Peter 👐 | Was saved 💡 |
Together in the boat with them 🚤 | Together with Jesus 💖 |
If you observe above, the beginning and end are the same: Rest, Together. Faith is a journey, not a destination. It is a journey where we bring our questions to God, but it requires us to take action— from waiting on the Lord, sharing your doubts with Him to stepping out in faith and calling on His name. He walks not just on water alone, He brings us along.
Final Reflections
If you’ve read this far, thank you for your time. If we take away anything today, let it be these three reminders:
Doubt is not the enemy of faith—it is an opportunity to deepen it.
Doubt does not disqualify us—God meets us in our doubts.
Don’t let life’s storms keep you from God’s presence. Fix your eyes on Jesus, and go up to the mountain to rest. “For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
Shalom, Genevieve
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