EL ROI: The God Who Sees Me in My Doubts.

Recap.

In this series we have been going through the ways that the God of the universe sees us. We first find this name for God “EL ROI” the good who sees me in the book of Genesis in the story of Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar wanted nothing to do with God and what was happening in her life but God in his grate love made himself known to her and showed her that he saw her and provide for he in her NEED!

2 weeks Zack taught us how God sees us in our sin and how its important for us too see sin as God does, not just as an oopsie but as treason against the King of the universe. However God reacts to our sin differently if we are a child of God rather than a child of wrath. I really recommend that you guys go back and listen to last weeks lesson when you get the chance its good for us to be reminded of those things.

Last week I thought us about how God sees us in our needs and promises to provide for us even when we don’t see a way out of our situation he is faithful. And that God is so concerned with our needs that he seeks to fulfill our greatest need, our need for a savior the person of Jesus Christ.

Main Point: El Roi—The God Who Sees Me—sees me even in my doubt, calls me to trust Him, and transforms me through faith.

Scripture: Matthew 14:22–33

Matthew 14:22–33 NIV

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

1. God Sees Me in My Doubt

(Matthew 14:24–27

Matthew 14:24–27 NIV

and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Context: Jesus had just fed the five thousand and the people want to crown him ads king and they begin to cause a big commotion. Jesus, afraid at what the people would do sends the disciples across to water to the other side and tells them he would meet them there. The disciples are in the boat, and a great storm begins and they are too far from the land to turn back and there is no hope that they can save themselves.

Just like the disciples we can find ourselves in the storms of life and doubting Gods plan. after all why would He let this storm happen?

Its important for us to understand that there an 2 types of storms that can come into our life. There are storms of correction and storms of perfection. storms of Correction happen when we run from God like Johan and try to do things in a way that opposes God and His will. he sends these storms to bring us back to him, or these storms are of our own making ( when we bring calamity into our lives) but there is hope, because God is so much bigger than our failures and he can redeem us for his plans, look at the thief on the cross, or rehab the prostitute, God uses broken people to accomplish his plans. The disciples were in a storm of perfection however, and these seem harder to navigate in my experience. We may know the reason like in a storm of correction, God will send these storms to make us stronger. But these are the most fruitful seasons of our life! they make us rely in God so much more. unlike a storm of correction The storm came because they were in the will of God and not (like Jonah) out of the will of God. Did Jesus know that the storm was coming? Certainly! Did He deliberately direct them into the storm? Yes! They were safer in the storm in God’s will than on land with the crowds out of God’s will. We must never judge our security on the basis of circumstances alone.

Key Thought:

Jesus saw their fear before they even cried out.

El Roi—God who sees—not only sees our outward actions but also our inward struggles and doubts.

Application

God isn’t shocked or disappointed by your doubts.

He sees you exactly where you are—confused, afraid, uncertain—and still wants you to draw near to him and he even comes toward you and will save you when the storm gets too much.

2. I Am Called to Respond

(Matthew 14:28–31

Matthew 14:28–31 NIV

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Just like peter Jesus calls us to respond to Him seeing us in our doubts by walk out into the unknown of the storm and to have faith that He is bigger than our doubts and the storm. He wants us to get out of the boat(our comfort zone) What are things that keep us in the boat? Comfort-Keeps our eyes on us. It is more comfortable ignore Jesus and look at myself. we as Christians lie to ourselves when we say we can live passive lives and follow Jesus at the same time. Matthew 16:24-25 Comfort is counterfeit commitment.

Matthew 16:24–25 NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Comparison-Keeps our eyes on others. We look so much at others we miss what God has for us. Fear-Keeps our eyes on the storm(the situations that take our peace) What produces the most fear in me and am I willing to give it up? Peter didn't walk out of the boat and on the water out of his own power but by his faith and keeping his eyes on Jesus( the only thing that wont let us sink)

Why did Jesus walk on the water? To show His disciples that the very thing they feared and kept them in the boat was only a staircase for Him to come to them. Often we fear the difficult experiences of life (such as surgery or bereavement), only to discover that these experiences bring Jesus Christ closer to us.

Why did they not recognize Jesus? Because they were not looking for Him. Had they been waiting by faith, they would have known Him immediately. Instead, they jumped to the false conclusion that the appearance was that of a ghost. Fear and faith cannot live in the same heart, for fear always blinds the eyes to the presence of the Lord Faith is not believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence

He will come to me-He will help me grow-He will see me through

Jesus simply says, “Come.” and he will help you do the rest.

Peter steps out of the boat—but begins to sink when he looks at the waves.

Key Thought:

Faith doesn’t mean having zero doubts. It means choosing to respond even in the doubt.

Jesus doesn’t scold Peter for sinking. He reaches out, catches him, and gently says, “Why did you doubt?” God is big enough to handle our doubts and he awants to hear them.

Application for Youth:

Doubt doesn’t disqualify you—it can be an invitation to step out in faith.

Responding might look like praying honestly, asking questions, or taking a risk to follow Jesus in a new way.

3. I Am Transformed

(Matthew 14:32–33

Matthew 14:32–33 NIV

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Jesus Sees us in our doubts and calls us to come to Him and asks us to respond in faith knowing that He is much bigger than our doubts and more powerful than our storms. He wants us to be transformed by faith. When we follow Jesus through the storm we see him calm the winds and the waves and this produces faith stronger faith in him that we can rely on in the future. We need to remember the ways that he has proven himself worthy of our trust in our storms.

When Jesus got to the other side Did the people know that He had come through a storm to meet their needs? Do we remember that He endured the storm of judgment to save our souls? (Ps. 42:7) He endured the storm for us that we might never face the judgment of God. We ought to imitate the disciples, bow at His feet, and acknowledge that He is King of kings and Lord of lords!

The disciples respond in worship: “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Key Thought:

Moments of doubt and response lead to deeper understanding and worship.

Peter didn’t stay stuck in fear or failure—his faith grew through that experience.

Application for Youth:

When you trust God in your doubt, He meets you there and transforms your faith.

Your doubts can actually become the doorway to stronger belief and deeper relationship with Jesus.

Takeaway Challenge:

Where am I doubting right now?

What is one way I can respond to Jesus this week—even in my uncertainty?

How have I seen Him transform me before?