It is day three of the Lent Challenge and I had to do some meditating to see something that God wanted me to see. Let me elaborate a little bit on my thoughts. We read Matthew 13-18 today and here is what I got from it.
I have been a Christian for about three years now. I had a traumatic experience in my life that lead me right into the arms of Jesus. As soon as I found Jesus (or rather He found me,) I took a hold of the message and began being equipped to do the work for the Good News. I was and am all too willing to take up my cross daily in order to follow Him, the One who gave me true and lasting life.
After having been in the church a while, I have noticed some peaks and some valleys in my walk with Christ. Sometimes I am all too willing to go off and do the things that I know He has planned for me. There are times though, that I am not really willing to do much more than get through the day. I am very sad to say that sometimes I have doubted. Not doubt that made me fall away per say, but doubt enough to make me wonder, "What are You doing? Where are You? Who are You?"
It is during these times that my faith grows stronger because God always shows up in the most miraculous ways. For every moment of weakness I had, He showed strength. For every question of, "Where are You?" He said, "Here I Am my son."
I have to say that my Dad is awesome but not out of habit or obligation. Because He is. He always will be. I take comfort with these thoughts in what I read today actually.
We all know the story so I won't repeat it in length here. Jesus makes the disciples go ahead of Him in a boat while He was dismissing a crowd. The disciples go to the other side of the lake in the boat and their thoughts aren't recorded. Jesus decides to show off His authority yet again by walking on water! Not only that but He compels Peter to do the same and guess what? He does!
Then He falls into the water... Gets soaked and most likely was a little embarrassed. I know I would be. Jesus has a question for him though. "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?"
They both climb back into the boat and the winds calm down. Then the people that were in the boat witnessing all of this start to worship Jesus. They say," Truly you are the Son of God."
Keep in mind that these were all disciples of Jesus in the boat.
Beginning in Matthew 16:13, Jesus begins to ask the disciples what people say about the Son of Man. They answer and Jesus asks who they say He is.
I imagine a pause here before Peter says, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
I don't know if there was a pause or if Peter was just fast at answering. I could see the possibility of a little bit of doubt showing through here. There are many examples of when the disciples doubted Jesus in one way or another. I am not alone in my doubts. Though I have never lived in the physical presence of Jesus, I have valleys just like the ones who did.
God is good. All the time. Even in my doubts. Even in my storms.
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