The Danger of Doubt

Text: John 4:11
The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? (NRSV)

Have you doubted that God can get you through your current situation?  Have you heard the promises that God will give you peace in the middle of the storms of life?  Have you heard the promises that God will give you the abundant life?  Have you heard the promise that God will give you joy?  And, yet, in your spirit you are saying, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep.”

I think we all fall into times of doubt.  It seems to be human nature to back away from God when we need God the most.  When things look bleak and our lives are in turmoil, too many times instead of running to God and letting God provide the peace, the abundant life, the joy, we insist on taking control of our own lives and, more often than not, make bad decisions that cause us more pain and suffering.

When the woman at the well asked Jesus where he got the living water of which he spoke, Jesus made it clear that the “living water” of which he spoke was found in a relationship with him.  It is in a relationship with Jesus that we find the promises of God fulfilled.  If our reaction is to doubt Jesus’ capacity to deliver on the promises of God, we will back away from the relationship and turn to our own resources and we will never receive the living water.  But when we turn to Jesus in our times of need and let him minister to our hurts, the peace of God, the abundant life, and the joy of Christ fill us even in the middle of the storm.

Do not let doubt keep you from a relationship with Jesus during the crises of your life.  Instead, allow the crises of life to remind you that it is only as we turn to Jesus that the healing begins.

Pray with me:

God of creation, you know best what I need in my times of suffering.  You who have created me and given me the breath of life, have the resources I need to move through my times of brokenness into your promises.  Take away my doubts and my discouragement that I might turn to Jesus and receive the living water that brings peace, joy, and the abundant life.  AMEN.

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