Peter: Why Do You Doubt?

We are currently, on Tuesday mornings, looking at seven different characters from God's Word.

​We've looked at ​Abraham: God’s Powerful Promise to a Patriarch, ​​Joseph: He Obeyed Quickly & Completely, Moses: Lifting the Hands of God’s Man, Moses & Aaron: The Leaders Punished, and David: An Acceptable Offering​​.

Today, we're looking at Peter: Why Do You Doubt? Peter is a fascinating character. I see so much of myself in Peter. 

​These characters are also featured in (Part Three: Days 21-27 Men of God Character Study) our Come and Gather: Family Time With God 27-day devotional. Or, what we lovingly refer to as Gather.

Today's theme is the protection and provision of the Savior, and our text is Matthew 14:22-33.

“Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:31) 

To feed over 5,000 people at one sitting is a fairly common occurrence in today’s world. To feed 5,000 people with only five pieces of bread and two fish is truly a miracle, and yet that is exactly what the Lord did on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

​​Immediately following this event Jesus instructed His disciples to get into a boat and sail to the other side of the lake—a journey of about six miles.

 Jesus then sent the people away and took some time to go and be alone with His Father in prayer. It was at that point that a significant trial came into the lives of the disciples and a valuable lesson was learned.

Have you ever felt like God sent you off all by yourself into the depths of a storm? As a child of God, is that really possible? While we may feel abandoned, let us not forget that wonderful promise of our Lord,

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

It was at the moment of greatest need and the point of greatest darkness, that Jesus appeared to the disciples as He came walking on the water. In the excitement of the moment, Peter asked permission to join the Lord on the sea. However, as he began to walk, he took his eyes off of the Lord and began to sink.

How often we are just like Peter! Just a few hours before he had seen over 5,000 people fed with a little boy’s lunch and now Jesus was walking on water in the middle of a storm and for a moment, Peter was thoroughly caught up in what God was doing to the point that he was participating in the miracle.

Unfortunately, Peter’s excitement and faith did not last. He took his eyes off of the One who was doing the work and began to focus on the situation instead of the Savior. If we are to live a victorious life in Christ, we must keep our focus; we must not forget the power and provision of the Savior in the midst of perilous times.

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Little Faith, Big God: Grace to Grow When Your Faith Feels Small

​What if I told you God cares more about you than your performance? Let the ordinary people from Hebrews 11 show you how to live strong and finish well. 

God expects spiritual growth to be a process. Do you? Hebrews 11 shows ordinary people who, by faith, pleased God. By exploring these biblical men and women who failed, got up again, and finished well, Little Faith, Big God will inspire you to persevere in your faith. Present-day stories and guiding questions invite personal reflection, application, and discussion.

​"Delightful... I highly recommend Little Faith, Big God..." —Josh McDowell, Christian apologist and best-selling author of Evidence That Demands a Verdict 

"Life is hard and at times, faith can be even harder. Yet, of all God's creations, we are the only ones called to live by faith. In Little Faith, Big God, Debbie helps reshape our perspective of the spiritual giants that have gone before us. She reminds us that while some stumbled under the weight of their trials, it didn't ruin their relationship with God, but actually helped to refine it! In this new study, Debbie takes us on a wonderful journey through the Bible and reminds us that 'impossible problems are no problem for a big God.'" —Amy Richissin, development officer, Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah

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​You may also be interested in checking out Peter: The Making of a Great Leader.

​How do you keep your focus, recalling the power and provision of our Savior, in the midst of perilous times?

Come and Gather: Family Time With God published with permission
​Pastor Jeremy Sweatt, Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut