◄ What Does Matthew 14:31 Mean? ►

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Matthew 14:31(HCSB)

Verse of the Day

The storms of life may be used by God to chasten or discipline us OR to perfect and refine us (or both) as, little by little, His Spirit uses the turbulent circumstances of life to transform us into the image and likeness of His dear Son.

God used the tempestuous ocean waves to correct the rebellious Jonah, and He used the same raging seas to develop, increase, and perfect the faith of Peter and the other disciples.

God never changes, and He has promised: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with You." Fear may blind our eyes to the precious promises of God and cause faith to falter, but we are called to look to Jesus in every difficult, dangerous, or distressing circumstance of life, for fear and faith are incompatible bed-fellows.

Although Peter quickly, faithfully, and obediently followed the Word of the Lord, he fleetingly looked away from Christ to the stormy seas beneath his feet and the swirling winds that surrounded him, and a moment of doubt crossed his heart.

"Why did you doubt?" was the question he was asked, for the one who doubts God's Word becomes "like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

We are not to be like those who shrink back and are overcome by the storms of life. We are to live by faith and not by sight. We are to be like those that read and believe that God is trustworthy to keep His Word, for He has promised: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you."

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are in control of every single circumstance of life, no matter how difficult, dangerous, or distressing such times may become. Keep my heart from doubting Your Word, and help me to trust You in all things. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.