DOMINION OVER DARTS OF DOUBT (3)

“O you of little faith, why did you DOUBT?” – Matthew 14: 31b

Scriptures provide rich insight into How to exercise DOMINION over DARTS of DOUBT: “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you DOUBT?” (Mt.14:31). Issues of faith and doubt have a massive impact on Christians of every maturity level. Today, we’ll meditate of four scripture texts about faith and doubt, that would help to illuminate our understanding of the two, and how to exercise dominion over Darts of Doubt.

Today’s devotional text illustrates how Faith provides a sure, stable footing, while doubt brings sinking. The disciples saw the Lord Jesus walking on water toward their boat in the night. Peter called out to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (v.28). The Lord did. Peter actually walked out on the water, but when he “SAW that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” (v.30). Jesus stretched out His hand to the rescue, saying: “O you of little faith, why did you DOUBT?” At the Lord’s command, Faith arose in Peter’s heart and ushered him into the miraculous, until the dart of doubt entered through his sense of sight – “he SAW” – and he began to sink!

It is noteworthy that Peter was the only disciple who spoke out in faith upon seeing Jesus; the only one who got out of the boat; and the only person besides Jesus who walked on water. Yet, the Lord singled out his little faith and queried his doubting. For a moment, Peter resisted every rule he knew about the sea. He defied the natural laws of physics. He literally stood on water! Jesus wasn’t chastising Peter. He was reminding him that he’d already stepped out in faith, which was commendable. He panicked after experiencing the miracle. He only needed to have kept on in faith and not allow the dart of doubt to distract him!

In Mark 9: 17-24, a father brought his convulsing son to the Lord Jesus to be healed. Jesus said: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (v.23). Quickly the man exclaimed, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” That is, “Help me overcome my unbelief!” This is one of the most honest statements about doubt in the entire New Testament. Faith and doubt aren’t absolute opposites on a light switch. They’re often conditions that exist side by side. The man asked Jesus to intervene. He believed enough to bother asking, but he could believe more. We could always believe more. It makes sense to use our existing faith to gain more.

“Trust in the Lord with ALL YOUR HEART and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL YOUR WAYS acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones” (Pro.3: 5-8). When it comes to having and exercising faith, there are obvious limitations to our understanding. We can lean into what we know and understand about God and His ways, or we can trust in our own understanding. God’s Word counsels we do the former. It’s only as we acknowledge and submit to His way that doubt dissolves and our path is straightened.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)…” Faith is the key to pleasing God. Believers are to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor.5:7). “The just shall live by faith” (Rom.1:17). In contrast, doubt can wither life. It takes faith to bear fruit, to pray, to serve, and to give, share, and make sacrifices. While we need not condemn ourselves for moments of doubt, we must not accept doubt as the norm, or remain in it. Faith is like a muscle that grows as we use it. It may sometimes falter and fluctuate, but we must keep on building our faith by the Word (Rom.10:17). Faith is absolutely necessary for us to live as children of God.