Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Thursday, August 25 2022

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Theme: DEALING WITH OUR DOUBTS AND FEARS

Text: “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” –  Matthew 14:31.

Comment: The context of this text is that Jesus Christ the Lord, having constrained his disciples to cross to the other side of the sea on boat, went alone to pray. At the fourth watch of the night, Christ went to meet them in the sea, walking on the water. Worthy of note is that the sea was raging on that day, yet Christ was walking on that very troubling sea. (Matthew 14:24, 25) The disciples, seeing Jesus, were afraid, thinking he was a spirit but he told them “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) Peter then requested to join him in the water, he was so permitted. “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:30) Then Christ stretched out his hand and held him up, while rebuking him for doubting, as in the text for today.

 

We need to understand that God handles our lives in His own way which is too wonderful for us to understand. Doubts leads to fear, fear leads to dismay, anxiety, confusion and distress. After God miraculously delivered the Jews from the Egyptian army by dividing the red Sea for the Jews and causing the waters to close up on the army of Egypt, Moses sang “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” – Exodus 15:11.