...AND SOME DOUBTED
Have you ever been on the spiritual treadmill trying to "get" more faith for the walk--afraid that doubt was going to keep you from your godly purpose, and blessings? It's time to get off, take a cleansing breath and put the guilt aside.
The problem is we tend to overspiritualize ourselves, while God recognizes our humanity. God acknowledges our doubts, and our fears--and doesn't reject us because of them. He still uses us--as quiet as its kept, all of us, no matter how great we may appear, have them. Faith is not a constant. For instance, a man or woman with the gift of healing may have very little problem (with doubt) when people bring the difficult cases before them. Their faith may waver, but because there is no personal consequence--it is in God's hands, and acceptance of the outcome isn't an issue. However, let the child of that healer become afflicted with a deadly illness; then faith becomes a much greater challenge.
When God sees our doubts, it is not His signal that we are not useful. He sees the potential of Himself, in us. That's what He saw, in the disciples. If you read the following verse, you will see that Jesus didn't skip a beat, nor did He hesitate as a result of the doubt. He simply laid on them the greatest task the world has ever known! Why??? God knows this equation: God + doubtful, fearful, nothingness = Explosive, World-Changing Power. The problem is that, we don't know that equation, so we spend time, belittling ourselves because we don't have enough faith, or being puffed up--giving ourselves more credit than we ought to--because all of the glory belongs to God! Whatever you start with, when you bring God into the picture--it has to be wondrous, awesome, dynamic and amazing!
Our doubts and fears do not stop God's program or plan, EVER! All that is required of us, for God to do great things through us, is a willing heart, surrendered and yielded to Him and His purpose. He does everything else. He makes up the difference. It is not my job to "create" or drum up faith within myself--or anyone else--God provides faith ("For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to has dealt to each one think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Romans 12:3) God gives the faith that is needed, in every circumstance, according to the measure that is needed. We don't walk around with super-faith, to wash our face and get dressed. It doesn't take that kind of faith. We expect that when we arise, in the morning, that there will be enough air to breathe, strength to rise and go about our daily activities--we don't even think about it (and sometimes, we even forget to thank Him, for it). These things require such a miniscule amount of faith that we don't notice. When faith is required for other "greater" things, God will provide it, in the same way--don't beat yourself up--or anyone else, either.
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7). It is His power, in us; His power that He gives us. We are not superhuman or little gods. We are humans, subject to human feelings, failures, and issues; but when we submit ourselves to His power, amazing things will happen. Only Jesus was both human and God--100%. We are 100% human, with His Spirit dwelling within us, giving us what we need, when we need it. Let's not pretend that we are more than we are--or feel that we are less than God declared that we are, in Him. He called you, He chose you, and He has work for you to do--don't be intimidated by those around you who tell you that you aren't good enough;
None of us is good enough, until Jesus steps in....
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