We all know and love Peter. We can easily identify with him because he is so human.
One of my favorite stories about Peter is when he walks on water amidst a raging storm.
Matthew 14:22-33
The disciples were out in the boat on the Sea of Galilee when a storm came up. It was worse than they had ever seen when suddenly they encountered something more fearful than the storm.
The disciples looked out from the boat, and they saw a man walking on the water.
Now, common sense tells them, this isn’t right! It must be a ghost.
Not only did they have to deal with a death-defying storm, but a ghost?
Fear isn’t always bad, sometimes it’s a reasonable reaction and especially in this case.
Jesus hears them and calls out, (I’m paraphrasing here), “Cheer up, guys, It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Now Peter is a smart guy, he calls back, “Lord if it’s You, command me to come to you. Peter’s focus wasn’t on the storm, it was on Jesus.
Jesus said, “Come.”
Peter does it.
Once out of the boat, his eyes went from Jesus to the storm. His focus changes and panic hits.
Reality sinks in; and so does Peter! Into hurling waters, he yells out, “Lord, save me!”
Jesus reaches down and pulls him out of the water and said to him, “O ye of little faith, why did you doubt?”
They get into the boat, and the winds stop. All the men in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly, You are the Son of God.”
Like Peter, when my focus becomes my storm and not Jesus, I go down pretty fast.
We can’t deny the reality of a storm, but it need not be our focus.
When I stare at the clock on the wall, I’m still aware of the surroundings in my peripheral vision.
The other things don’t go away just because my focus isn’t on them, but they become fuzzy by comparison because they aren’t my focus; they are secondary.
It’s Jesus in the storm that changes everything.
A storm can cause fear, destruction, and loss, but it passes. However, it can bring a blessing, perhaps a fresh beginning, or best of all, greater faith.
Whenever I read about the disciples, I realize how human they were. Fear, doubt, and disappointments were all part of their walk with the Lord. Just like mine. Yet, the more they knew Him, the greater their love and faith in Him became.
More than once I have heard that small still voice that whispers to my heart, say “O you of little faith, why do you doubt?”, just after Jesus has had to reach down and pull me up again.
Our world feels like it’s upside down and is unlike anything we’ve known before, and it changes every day. The spirit of fear weaves its way into the hearts and minds of people because we can’t control our circumstances, and we don’t know what to expect next. Every night on the news media seems to give us something new to worry about. Fear for free. No, thanks.
But even in this storm, no matter what happens, we have a Savior that is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrew 13:8.
He promised us, He would never leave us or forsake us.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1.
We “TAKE” refuge, that’s our part.
The takeaway: God is a very “PRESENT HELP IN trouble.” He’s already there.
