The Sands of Doubt
Read: Matthew 14:22-31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (v. 31 NIV) Does Jesus’s question to Peter
Stan Mast January 16, 2025
Have you ever struggled with doubt, wondering if it’s a weakness, a sin, or even a natural part of faith? “Doubt and Faith” is a daily devotional series to help you face the tough questions, understand the roots of your doubt, and grow in your faith.
Through Bible reading and reflection, these daily devotional readings address different kinds of doubt—factual, emotional, and even willful resistance—offering insight into how they arise and how Jesus meets us in each one. Whether doubt stems from unanswered questions, life’s pain, or simply the struggle to surrender, you’ll learn how to bring it to Jesus. His response to doubt is not rejection, but grace and mercy.
As you journey through these devotional readings, you’ll discover practical tools for strengthening your faith, like focusing on Jesus, studying the Bible, prayer, and practicing spiritual disciplines. You’ll also be reminded that doubt doesn’t disqualify you from God’s love or his purpose for your life. Instead, it can be a pathway to deeper understanding and greater trust.
If you’re ready to move from the sinking sands of doubt to the solid ground of faith, this devotional series invites you to draw closer to Jesus and find peace in his unchanging truth.
Read: Matthew 14:22-31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (v. 31 NIV) Does Jesus’s question to Peter
Read: John 17:6-21 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (v. 15 NIV) Our story yesterday
Read: Matthew 21:18-22 If you have faith and do not doubt . . . you can say to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and it will be
Read: Luke 18:9-14 God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (v. 13 NIV) Is doubt a virtue? I doubt it, if Jesus tells us to stop. Well, then, is doubt
Read: Matthew 28:16-20 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. (v. 17 NIV) Whenever I’ve preached on the Great Commission, I’ve skipped over those three words in
Read: Matthew 26:36-46 My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. (v. 39 NIV) The root
Read: Luke 24:36-49 Jesus himself stood among them . . . . [and] they were startled and frightened. (vv. 36-37 NIV) Yesterday we looked at how doubt can be the
Read: John 11:45-53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. (v. 53 NIV) Perhaps the most stubborn kind of doubt is volitional doubt, doubt that is
Read: Luke 24:36-45 Why do doubts rise in your minds? (v. 38 NIV) We are revisiting this story because it contains a question that must be answered if we are
Rev. Stan Mast is a retired pastor, who served four churches in the West and Midwest regions of the United States. He finished his career with three years of teaching at Calvin Seminary. He is happily married to Sharon, and they have two sons and four grandchildren. Stan is a voracious reader and works out regularly. He also calls himself a car nut and an “avid, but average” golfer.