A seeker who is in trouble and tempted to doubt his or her salvation, is forgetting the faithfulness of Christ. He always keeps his promise. If he says, ‘Come’, you are safe. If he says, ‘Repent’, and you do so, you are safe. If he says, ‘Yield your life to me’, and you do so with a sincere heart, you are safe. That is the meaning of the passage. ‘And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said, Oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
The causes of small faith:
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1. To be out of practice in exercising faith. Faith must be exercised every day. Intercession for others – not just our own children, but the children of others also. The Lord Jesus blessed everybody while on earth.
2. Laziness in the Christian life – self-discipline is vital. To a large degree, faith and spiritual progress rest on this.
3. Losing respect for Christ’s commands. It will help us to exercise faith. In obedience to Christ is worship.
4. Losing sight of Christ’s close interest in his people. In a moment of crisis Peter forgot this. The Lord doesn’t want us to sink in weakness, sin, and fruitfulness. He is close, all the time.
5. Making no effort to keep these things in mind.
6. Failing to rejoice and give thanks to God.
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Definitions of doubt:
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1. When we behave, plan, think as though we are alone on our walk through life.
2. When we think as though there is no God in heaven to help.
3. When worldliness comes in and steals our minds and names.
4. When the Lord is easily overruled.
5. When I become complacent, silent, gloomy, or do not pray.
6. When I am easily upset by situations.
7. When I complain much; when I forget providence; when I underestimate the power of the spiritual battle.
8. When I take over at the centre of my life.
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