I recently started a new daily Bible study, “Stronger” by
Angela Thomas (which I would highly recommend). Daily, it reaffirms the fact that God is
stronger. Stronger than our weakness, stronger than our unbelief,
stronger than temptation, stronger than worry, and today’s topic: stronger
than doubt.
First of all, I’m not afraid to ask God “hard questions” and
wait out the answers, so I didn’t think I had internalized much doubt. However,
reading the famous story of Peter walking on water, I couldn’t help but see
myself. In Matthew 14:22, Peter wants to demonstrate faith. He asks the Lord to
command him to come out onto the water. Jesus said, “Come,” and Peter responds
with eager obedience. In that moment, Peter steps out, and I can only imagine
His eyes are locked on Jesus, and Jesus’ eyes on Peter. So quickly though,
Peter shifts his focus and instead looks at the wind and waves and his faith
fails him.
“He might have
traversed the leagues of the Atlantic, he might have crossed the broad Pacific,
if he could but have kept his eyes on Christ, and ne’er a billow would have
yielded to his tread, but he might have been drowned in a very brook if he
began to look at [his circumstances]…forgetting the Great Head and Master of
the Universe who had bidden him walk the sea.” – Spurgeon
Think about it, if he had kept his gaze on Jesus instead of
looking to his circumstances, he could have been led far out into the sea. He
could have been led far out from his safety zone to a place where even the boat
was out of sight. He would have still been just as safe and just as protected
because the Lord called him and protected him. But if at any moment he turned away, he would
rightfully be terrified. His circumstances say alone, in a dangerous
place, past the point of no return, etc. We can read the story and say “silly
Peter,” but we show the same lack of faith whenever we react to our
circumstances instead of God’s promises. I know in my life, I managed to give
the Lord an eager “yes” when he called me to the mission field, but since then
I’ve encountered numerous circumstances that tempted me to doubt.
A few months ago, my Pastor taught something that has worked
in me every since.
As Christians, we need to be able to differentiate between
reality and truth.
Reality is what we see. Reality is broken relationships,
sickness, an empty cupboard, abandonment, pain, loneliness, and Peter finding himself far from the
boat, surrounded by deep water.
Truth, however, is divine truth and God’s promises. Truth is
that God will never leave nor forsake (Deuteronomy 31:6), God has the power to
heal physically, spiritually and emotionally (Psalms 103:3), God is an ever
present help in trouble (Psalms 46:1), those who love the Lord will lack no
good thing (Psalm 34:10), and that the Lord sustained Peter, safe as could be,
above the water.
But what happens when reality doesn’t seem to match truth?
Which do we grab on to? I’m not saying this is easy to do, but it has been such
a blessing for me to actively choose truth, even when reality screams something
different.
When I’m in physical danger, do I fear or trust that God
goes before me and can hide me under his wings?
When I ask God for a good thing with good intentions, but he
chooses not to answer, do I believe that He doesn’t hear or doesn’t care about
my request, or do I choose to believe that He loves and hears me and will work
everything together perfectly in His plan?
When I find myself all alone, do I see loneliness or God’s
constant presence?
When there is not enough money to pay bills (much less do
ministry generously), do I choose reality or the truth that I will lack no
good thing?
When I feel the familiar pull of anxiety and depression, do
I allow that to be my reality or do I speak the truth that God has the power to
heal and restore my mind and soul?
When I can’t hear His voice or feel His love, do I still
believe His overwhelming love is constant and directed towards me?
There are countless even more challenging situations to
consider as well. Death, chronic illness, abandonment, abuse, etc, but even in
those realities, God’s truth remains valid.
When Peter found himself dangerously far into the ocean, he
had to choose whether to see the danger or see God’s protection.
Probably my favorite example of this is also one of my
favorite verses.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
– Jeremiah 29:11
While this is a hugely inspiring verse, many don’t know the
context of when it was written, but I believe when read in context, it is even
more powerful. This promise was delivered to the exiles, people who had been
carried away from their homes as Babylon conquered and eventually destroyed
Jerusalem and the temple. Families were torn apart, death was all around, God’s
temple was destroyed, and His people were conquered by a horrible nation. On
top of all that, God sent word to the people that the exile would not be short
lived; instead, it would continue for 70 years.
Does that reality seem to match God’s truth?
This verse affirms that despite the unimaginable suffering, God remains. He remains good, He loves His people, and He is stronger than any circumstance. He offers them a hope and a future far more satisfying than circumstances. He is their hope, their future, and their strength.
No matter what our reality, God’s truth remains constant.
And when it doesn’t match up before our eyes, we have a choice to turn our eyes, our focus, and our words to circumstances or to Truth. Like I said, its not
easy, it goes against human nature and logic sometimes. But that is the
definition of faith: believing what we cannot see.
When given the choice to see reality or
truth, choose truth.
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