They had just seen Jesus perform but one of the marvelous, miraculous works of His life. With a mere five barley loaves and two small fish, five thousand men plus women and children had eaten to their fill. It was immediately afterward that Jesus told His apostles to enter a ship and go ahead of Him to the other side of the sea. Hours later, the evening had come, a storm had developed, and as far as they knew Jesus was still up on the mountain praying. However, all of a sudden in the middle of the vastness of the water they looked up and saw the figure of a man walking toward them. How could this be possible? It had to be a spirit, for surely no man had the power to work such a marvel. In fear they cried out not knowing what to do. Suddenly, though, a voice that had comforted them and directed them for the previous three years called to them and said, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Matthew 14:27). We know nothing of what the other apostles thought or felt, but Peter is recorded as speaking up and seeking evidence. If it truly was Jesus then Peter sought permission to come out and walk to Him. Inherently Peter’s request was innocent and admirable. Realizing the many ways that souls could be easily led astray, Peter simply seeks proof for the claim. It is, however, the case that his request for proof would also prove to be in vain, because even with the presence of proof, Peter still would sink in the depths of doubt.
Doubt is a dangerous state of life. It stands in the middle of belief and disbelief. It does not represent full faith, but neither does it fall into the category of absolute disbelief. Either one of those states of life is one with which work can be done. A life of belief can be encouraged and cultivated and used to bring forth fruit. A life of disbelief can be taught and encouraged and directed toward the paths of righteousness. A life of doubt, though, is much like the lukewarmness of the Laodiceans; worthy only being spewed out. Peter’s life, as are the lives of many, is categorized as a continued jump between faith and doubt. On this occasion the former would be abandoned and the latter would be embraced, and the result would be fear and distress. As Peter began to walk out on the water toward His Lord, he began walking in full faith. Soon, though, the winds were noticed and the waves were seen, and he began to doubt. And as he began to doubt, he began to sink. What, though, is the ultimate reason that Peter sank in the depths of doubt? He took his eyes off of God.
We are not all that different from Peter. Generally, we live lives of belief and full of faith, but there are times, as there were with Peter, when we take our eyes off God and we begin to doubt. And when we doubt, we sink into the depths of a lost and dying world. If Peter had closer guarded his faith, perhaps such doubt would not have plagued him through life. But to guard our faith, we must be prepared for it to face the challenges of life. What are some of these challenges?
When suffering occurs, doubt can creep in. Job, the great sufferer, had as much happen to him in a short amount of time as perhaps anybody who has ever lived. And while his biographical book clearly suggests that Job was faithful in all things through his ordeal, it is also somewhat evident that Job began to doubt God’s justice. He knew he had not sinned to deserve what had taken place, but his friends had convinced him mightily that God was behind his suffering. In fact, so sure was Job of all this that he stated, “If I walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity” (Job 31:5-6). Such doubt is common when man is confronted with suffering. God is often the first to receive blame. But by preparing ourselves for the surety of suffering and knowing the source and reasons for suffering, we will more likely avoid the doubt that accompanies it.
When sorrow occurs, doubt can begin to take root. “Why, oh why must we feel the pain of sorrow? Surely if God was truly God then sorrow would not be felt, by His people especially.” Such are often the sentiments felt when death visits or some other calamity occurs. How could God possibly allow us to feel such hurt? If unprepared, when sorrow arrives it is easy for doubt to begin to take root within our lives. As David felt the sorrow that accompanied his sins and the consequences of his sins with Bathsheba, David realized that his sorrow was not initiated by God, but rather because of sin (Psalm 51:13-15). When sorrow strikes, prepare your heart to withstand the doubt that can easily follow.
There are so many things that can cause us to, like Peter, sink into the depths of doubt. What is significant about this account, though, is that before being rebuked with the famous words, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”, the text says that “immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him” (Matthew 14:31). We should do all we can to avoid the doubt that too easily can develop at certain times in our lives; but in those times that we, like Peter, fail, we can take comfort in knowing the Jesus is still there with an open hand and an outstretched arm ready to help. Are you fearful in the throes of doubt? Have no fear, Jesus is near.