Do you have hidden doubts? Are you unsure or insecure about something? Are you hoping no one sees what you have covered with an outer shell? Has your hidden doubt led to fear? How would you feel if it was revealed?
We sometimes have doubts we don’t want to reveal. Those doubts eat away at us and cause us to be fearful of exposure. We desire to keep our doubts buried under a façade we have developed for others to see.
We may doubt if we can complete a college degree. We may doubt we are suited for a specific job. We may doubt if we are cut out to be parents. We may doubt if we are good enough. Our doubts may develop into fears. Fear we will be discovered. Fear others will think less of us if they know we have these doubts. Fear our friends will reject us because of our doubts and insecurities.
Sometimes, the best thing that can happen is for our doubts to be exposed. In fact, it may be that everyone already knows, but has been keeping it hidden as well. Bringing the doubt to the surface can clear the air, allow for healing, allow for the doubt to be removed.
Take the example from today’s passage. Though it was unsaid, I’m sure the apostles were wondering how the people who were following Jesus were going to eat. We are told there were five thousand men, besides women and children. That’s a lot of people. Jesus knows the apostles are wondering about it and have doubts as to how the people will eat. Perhaps they were especially worried about the children. So, Jesus exposes their doubt. Once it is exposed and the apostles confess they cannot feed them, Jesus works a miracle and feeds them all with five loaves of bread and two small fish.
It often works the same way for us. Once we confess our doubts to Jesus, He works in our lives to remove those doubts. However, it is up to us to take the first step, which is confession. He stands ready to intervene on our behalf.
I pray we all confess our doubts to Jesus. I pray we open ourselves up and allow Him to intervene for us. I pray each one of us are willing to look at ourselves and see the doubts we have buried. Trust Jesus. Confess your doubts to Him. Allow Jesus to intervene for you. Take the first step.
John 6:5-6 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Marty Pressey 