Stay in God's Grip!
  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact

 While in God's Grip!

Doubt, the first step of faith!

6/3/2019

 
Picture
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught [Peter]. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
~ Matthew 14: 31

​
One of the words that I often here when people are describing their faith is the word, "doubt." I think it is the one word that all of us have experienced in our life, and in our faith. Actually, I will be so bold as to say that doubt is the first step of faith.

Jesus faced each day with the knowledge that no matter what miracles, or demonstrations of God's amazing power he exhibited, the disciples still simply doubted.

Having doubts about our faith can be challenging, and for some, it becomes more of a habit, rather than a one-time experience. Self doubt can keep us from seeing in ourselves what God believes us to be.

Doubt can paralyze a dream. It can keep us from realizing our full potential. It keeps us from stepping out, and moving forward. All the while it is often not something we should even consider.

I used to tell folks who would doubt themselves that someone "sold them an idea about something, and that they bought it and believed it to be so."

Doubt begins with a tiny seed. It's like when Peter was called out from the boat onto the water to walk with Jesus. He was doing fine until the seed of doubt began to rise up, "you can't walk on water..."

GLUB! GLUB! GLUB! (Maybe the initial reason that Jesus referred to Peter as the "rock.")

Our ability to overcome doubt is a daily process. It is a refined practice, and is an exercise in faith.

The singer that sings out for the first time before the crowd. The student who finally stands up to the bully. The woman who proclaims enough is enough as she leaves an abusive relationship. It's the echo of the Spirit within our hearts that proclaims, "Yes, you can!"

It's one thing when the Spirit of God says, "Yes!" It's even more powerful when you recognize a gift in someone else and you find the way to help them see what God and others see as well.

Do you know someone who battles with self-doubt? Do you have moments where doubt overwhelms the moment?

Faith may very well be believing in the things that we cannot see, but it is also about overcoming doubt and having courage! Not just belief in ourselves, but in others. In doing so, faith becomes tangible and real!

Doubt is merely a stepping stone to belief!

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2019

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Rev. G. Todd Williams is the author of the book, "Remember Me When..." (Chalice Press, August 2021) and is a former hospice chaplain.

    He holds a Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and currently is serving Webster Presbyterian Church, Webster, Texas as their Interim Senior Minister.

    Archives

    May 2025
    September 2024
    February 2024
    May 2023
    February 2023
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact