It's a NEW year!

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and

 the truth and the life. No one comes 

 to the Father except through me."

John 14:6

❤

I woke very early on New Year's  Day with this verse on my lips. First, can I just say that waking up with God's word on my lips and in my heart is pretty amazing. It's not an accident nor is it a mistake. It is now 24 hours later and this verse has not left my thoughts. What is God trying to show me, tell me? Time to dig into God's Word.  Pray and listen. 

Enduring Word Commentary:

I am the way, the truth, and the life: Jesus didn’t say that He would show us a way; He said that He is the way. He didn’t promise to teach us a truth; He said that He is the truth. Jesus didn’t offer us the secrets to life; He said that He is the life.

• I’m wandering about; I don’t know where I’m going. Jesus is the way.
• I’m confused; I don’t know what to think. Jesus is the truth.
•  I’m dead inside and don’t know if I can go on. Jesus is the life.

“Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou must follow; the truth in which thou must believe; the life for which thou must hope.” (a’ Kempis, cited by Bruce)

                                     ***************

Though it grieves me to say, there are times that I doubt that....

●He knows me
●He knows what I need
●He knows my desires
●He has my best interest at heart
●He hears my cries
●He SEES me
●He's listening

Doubt - a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction; to have no confidence in someone or something; distrust

Look at the ARCHAIC definintion - fear; be afraid.....

I ask myself, "What drives my doubt?" I think of Peter.

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”   Matthew 14:28‭-‬31

When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus he became afraid, when he was frightened, he began to doubt, when he doubted, he lost confidence.....

“Peter walked on the water but feared the wind: such is human nature, often achieving great things, and at fault in little things.” (Bruce)

I really like Spurgeon's thoughts:

“THERE is only one word in the original for the phrase, ‘O thou of little faith.’ The Lord Jesus virtually addresses Peter by the name of ‘Little-faith,’ in one word.” 

Peter here shows us the weakness of little-faith.

•  Little faith is often found in places where we might   expect great faith
•  Little faith is far too eager for signs Little faith is apt to   have too high an opinion of its own power.
•  Little faith is too much affected by it surroundings.
•  Little faith is too quick to exaggerate the peril.

Yet Peter also shows us some of the strengths of little faith.

• Little faith is true faith. 
• Little faith will obey the word of Jesus.
• Little faith struggles to come to Jesus.
• Little faith will accomplish great things for a time.
• Little faith will pray when it is in trouble.
• Little faith is safe, because Jesus is near.

 “You do believe, and if you believe, why doubt? If faith, why little faith? If you doubt, why believe? And if you believe, why doubt?” (Spurgeon)

Doubt versus Faith - As nouns the difference between faith and doubt is that faith is a feeling, conviction, or belief that something is true or real, not contingent upon reason or justification while doubt is uncertainty, disbelief.

I like to beat myself up every time I doubt, every time I falter.....every time I perceive that I've failed. But just like Peter, Jesus will IMMEDIATELY pick me up and set my foot on solid ground. He's not giving up on me. He's not disappointed in me. He isn't going to abandon me. He IS the way. He IS the truth. He IS the life. He loves me unconditionally. 

And maybe that's just what God is saying to me today...this first day of 2022. Every time I fear, every time I doubt, every time I feel abandoned, every time I'm disappointed, every time I feel unseen, unheard, He says, "fix your eyes on me, I AM the author and perfector of your FAITH.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!