Our friend Peter has done it again. His actions have caused me to pause this morning and ask a couple of tough questions of myself. Am I like Peter? Do I do exactly what he did? Come with me today as I share a couple of true stories.
I don’t walk on water every day, but sometimes I feel like I do. Okay, not in reality, but figuratively speaking.
But both Jesus and Peter actually did walk on water. I am back in Matthew 14 again this morning. I’m drawn to this story lately. I’m noticing I resonate with Peter’s behavior.
Like Peter, sometimes I’m all in. I climb out of the boat, and I walk faithfully toward Jesus, no fear, no doubt. I’m completely focused on God.
At other times, I start out like Peter, seeking Jesus, keeping my eyes on Him only. Then something catches my eye, and I look away from Jesus. I notice the wind, the wave, the war around me. And that’s when it happens to me, just like Peter, I begin to sink.
The fear factor is like a giant wave that comes crashing down on me. Hard not to notice the fierce wind and waves. I begin to doubt. In those moments, I’m lacking faith. And just like Peter, I cry, out “HELP! Lord, save me!”
But do you know what causes the doubt? We stop seeking Jesus. We take our eyes off of Jesus. We notice the wind, just like Peter did.
There have been plenty of times in my life I’ve noticed the wind and that caused me to begin to sink.
One time I was unemployed for quite some time. I actively searched for a job and still wasn’t employed one year later. I began to sink.
There have been a few times I’ve been sick, but one time in particular I had C-Difficile for months. I noticed Every. Single. Symptom. I focused on them Every. Single. Day. I was sick and I began to doubt I’d be well ever again. I began to sink.
Another time early in my second pregnancy I started bleeding. First thing I did. I noticed the storm raging all around me! I didn’t just sink emotionally, but physically. I remember sinking to the floor in fear.
All of these true experiences were discouraging and difficult. I doubted Jesus’ faithfulness to me because just like Peter, I stopped seeking Jesus and noticed the wind in my life.
But just like Peter, I called out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!”
Do you know each time He did?
When I started focusing on Jesus again, I stopped fearing the no-job situation. Instead I changed my prayer to be, “Only give me the job you want me to have when you want me to have it.” After 14 months, He did. And I’m still employed at this organization. It’s been 10 years now!
C-Difficile caused me a lot of trouble, even contributed to my bleeding issue in my second pregnancy and put my baby at risk. As I sank to the living floor that day I noticed the bleeding, and I was full of fear. I changed my focus to Jesus. I got up on my knees and prayed for a miracle. I don’t have time to share this true story today, but Jesus healed me of that bacterial issue and that little baby is now 25 years old.
Friends, perhaps you are like me and Peter. We begin to sink when we notice the wind in our lives. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and seek Him or we will begin to sink.
What are you noticing right now that’s causing you to sink?
I pray you will turn your eyes back to Jesus, call out to Him, and believe He will save you even if it takes a while. Keep seeking Jesus.
Scripture:
Matthew 14:29-30 – “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?”
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