If anyone had asked me if I
could take a shower in 4 minutes, I would have said, "Impossible!" I very much
enjoy my time in the shower. I take my time lathering myself with soap and
scrubbing shampoo into my hair, and I enjoy the hot water that removes the soap
from my body. And the hotter the water, the better! It reminds me of how nice
Tahiti must be, and as the steaming liquid cascades over me, I often find myself
asking why I live so close to the Arctic!
Last year, in a campground in Nova Scotia, I found
myself confronted with this question: "Can
you
take
a shower
in 4 minutes?"
Showers in this particular campground were a bit on the expensive side. In fact,
at 1$ for four minutes, it could be considered a luxury item! A 20 minute shower
would have cost me my breakfast!
So with a loonie (dollar coin) in the palm of my hand,
I faced that lavish shower. I lathered up my hair with soap before entering this
kingly place, and with shampoo running into my eyes, I bade farewell to the
gold-coloured coin and jumped in. Believe me, I hurried! And I succeeded in
washing and rinsing myself before the water ran out 4 minutes later!
I did it!
Why had I doubted that it was possible? Didn't I
believe the promise: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
(Phil 4:13 NIV)?
But then, Jesus, too, likes to ask us that question
and he did ask to Peter: "Why did you doubt?"
(Matt 14:31 NIV)
At that
time, Peter had just walked on the lake. But "… when he saw the wind, he was
afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" (Matt 14:30 NIV)
Even today, with our modern technology, water-walking
isn't too common! Peter had done the impossible! Still, as soon as he realized
his circumstances, he doubted.
Would we have done any differently? Our loving God
asks us that very question over and over: "Why did you doubt?"
We may not look like we are doubting, but as we face
the challenges of our everyday lives, deep within our hearts we are often
shaking uncontrollably. "I don't know how I will be able to face this trial,
Lord! I leave it in your hands Lord! But what if you don't come through? What
then? Are You REALLY going to help me???"
More often than not we forget who we are dealing with.
We forget that it was God's power that raised Jesus from the dead. God's power
created everything in the universe! God makes vast armies flee. God specializes
in the impossible! And He wants to share this power with everyone who will
believe!
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the
riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great
power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at
his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power
and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but
also in the one to come." (Eph 1:18-21 NIV)
"Why did you doubt?"
We have no good reason to doubt! Imagine the power
that God would grant us, if only our doubt didn't stand in the way!
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not
doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say
to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you
believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matt 21:21-22 NIV)
Imagine what we lose when we do doubt!
"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,
because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a
double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:6-8 NIV)
Why is this question so important to our God? This, my
friend, we will discover in our next inspirational story. In the meantime let us
reflect on what our loving God is trying to tell us.
Do you doubt that you can't take a shower in 4
minutes?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.