When Fear and Doubt Make Way for a Miracle - Encouragement for Today - April 14, 2026
When Fear and Doubt Make Way for a Miracle
ADRIEL BOOKER
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“[Jesus] said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” Mark 4:40 (NIV)
The first time a personal crisis challenged my beliefs, I was 16 years old. I developed nodules on my vocal cords and had to sit out from all the singing-related activities I loved. These were more than fun for me; they were seeds of a secret dream of working in the performing arts, a dream I felt forced to relinquish.
I didn’t talk about my crisis and the doubt it incited. I didn't acknowledge the resulting mix of fear and grief that cozied up alongside it. I had no idea how to process it, and so I didn’t. Knowing what I know now, I’m convinced God would have met me in my questions and accusations. But at the time, I ignored them, which in turn led me to ignore God.
In the years since, I’ve experienced much greater crises, and I’ve learned how fear and doubt are intimately connected with faith.
Mark 4:35-41 shows this by telling the story of Jesus in a boat, where He slept through a storm while His disciples panicked, distraught that Jesus would dream through their nightmare.
When they woke Him, Jesus responded to their desperation and fear by speaking to the sea, telling it to be still. Miraculously, it obeyed.
“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Jesus asked the disciples (Mark 4:40).
I’d always assumed these follow-up questions were an accusation and reprimand. I read between the lines and determined the disciples were a huge disappointment to Jesus in that moment. (Perhaps that reading says more about me than it does about Jesus.) But then one day, I read this verse differently.
What if we take Jesus’ words at face value? Could it be that He wanted the disciples to simply name their fear and admit their lack of faith? What if His questions were meant to bring clarity, not condemnation? Remember that Mark 4:39 says Jesus “rebuked the wind” (NIV); it doesn't say He rebuked the disciples.
What if Jesus’ questions were meant to set the stage so they could see the calmed storm as His miracle, not theirs, and to remind them that they were never alone?
God’s presence with us in life’s disasters doesn’t depend on our ability to see clearly, have "perfect" theology, muster up enough faith, or be strong in the face of fear. God is present because He is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23, NIV). God works miracles in all forms because that’s who He is and what He does (Psalm 77:14).
Whatever crisis, loss, or ambiguity you face, Jesus remains in the boat with you. It might seem like He has bailed, but He hasn’t, and He won’t. God’s presence is the miracle. Even if your boat sinks to the bottom, God remains. And wherever fear or doubt threaten to take you, God’s kindness can be found there too.
God of miracles, the greatest miracle of all is Your presence. Help me to experience Your grace and discern Your kindness even when it feels like I might drown in rough seas. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Adriel knows that the space between a personal or spiritual crisis and the new normal you hope for can be as disorienting as the initial crisis itself. For insights on how the in-between can be a tool of deep spiritual transformation, pick up her book Tethered to Hope: The Quiet Kindness of God in Crisis, Change, and the Spaces in Between.
ENGAGE
For more of Adriel’s writing, subscribe to her Substack, “The Foundry,” at https://adrielbooker.substack.com/ or follow her on Instagram @adrielbooker.
For more of Adriel’s writing, subscribe to her Substack, “The Foundry,” or follow her on Instagram @adrielbooker.
Enter to WIN your very own copy of Tethered to Hope by Adriel Booker. To celebrate this book, Adriel’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by filling out the form here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and notify them via email by Monday, April 20, 2026.}
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV).
How have you experienced the presence of God when you felt your faith was frail?
What’s one question or doubt you’ve kept from God? How might you pivot from seeking answers to seeking connection with God and experiencing His kindness? Share with us in the comments!
© 2026 by Adriel Booker. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
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