Can You Take a Shower in 4 Minutes? Rivers of Faith, Part 20: Doubtful Delusions
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