“O You Of Little Faith,

Why Did You Doubt?”

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

Matthew 14:22-36

There are three things each of us needs we follow God’s plan for our lives: a quiet room, and empty piece of paper, and the question, “Is there something I should know?”

Throughout Jesus’s public ministry, He took time to be alone in prayer. After feeding the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish, He sent His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat while He dismissed the crowd. “After Jesus had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone.”

If the Lord Jesus needed quiet time with His Father, how much more quiet time do we need to pour out our hearts to our Father, to ponder His Word?

From that quiet hillside, Jesus descended into a violent storm, knowing exactly what His Father wanted Him to do.

Taking time to be with God is the best place to find strength.

Our Daily Bread – July 13, 2016