Ever heard the story of Peter walking out to Jesus on the water? If not, [Matthew 14:22] basically, there was a raging storm, and the men on the boat were absolutely terrified. Then, there appeared Jesus on the water. Peter asked, if it's really you, beckon me out to you. So Jesus said, come. Peter walks out, and is walking on waves. Not just still water, but humongous storm sized waves. Then, he starts to look around and begins to sink. He was afraid and, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus grabs his hands and pulls him up, then responds, "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?" And when they both got on the boat the men rejoiced saying, "Truly YOU ARE the Son of God!"
I was reminded of this story reading a book. (How's Your Soul? By: Judah Smith) And while reading this book, I honestly had tears streaming down my face. Let me explain why.
Peter. Was face-to-face with The Savior. And STILL he doubted. He could physically reach out and touch the Lord. Can you imagine being able to physically reach out and touch Jesus? To have Him come up behind you and pick you up when you fall. To go to coffee with him and bi*ch about your awful week. To have Him calm a storm that is swirling around you?
(Sidenote: He ends up denying Christ three times...that's another story on faith, trust, etc.)
But that last part... to calm the storm. Jesus IS our calm in a storm. He doesn't always calm the storm, but He IS the calm. He is the lighthouse beckoning us to safety. He is the anchor of our souls. The book explained, the physical, tangible Jesus was right in front of Peter and he still had trouble keeping his eyes on Jesus because the waves were so big.
The waves in your life may feel big right now. I know they do in my own. I want to focus on Jesus as the storm is swirling around. I want to focus on the one who calms the storm within my soul. Not focus on the storm itself. In the middle of the storms he asks us, "why do you doubt?" He isn't looking for a list of reasons why you don't, but he wants you to be reminded that we have NO reason to doubt at all. He is the rock. He is our anchor. He is the KING! And He is FOR us, WITH us, and LOVES us. He has gone before us in our lives. He knows what will happen, yet walks us through it all.
Let me give you an excerpt of the book...
"The parallel to our lives is clear. It's easy to have faith when we are safely in the boat-when the wind is gone and the stars are out. But can we trust Jesus in the midst of the storm> Because that is when we need him the most...Jesus got into the boat, 'immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going'(John 6:21) Thats just like Jesus. One moment you are in a storm and you are terrified and confused and alone. But then suddenly, somehow, you are where you wanted to be. You hardly know how you got there. And there was a time not too long before when you thought you'd never make it, that the stops and waves were going to win. But you held on, and God got you through."
I pray if you feel overwhelmed and anxious. If you feel like you're about to drown. If your current loneliness, hardships or sadness feels indefinite, that you wouldn't run. That you would understand the truest, most consistent security in life is Jesus. I pray that you would relinquish that control, and drop the doubt. I pray right now that you would feel lighter, understanding that worry is merely a lack of faith, and not a burden for you to bear. I pray you will say, I choose to believe, I choose to cast all my fears on you, to trust in you, and to choose you.
C.S
I was reminded of this story reading a book. (How's Your Soul? By: Judah Smith) And while reading this book, I honestly had tears streaming down my face. Let me explain why.
Peter. Was face-to-face with The Savior. And STILL he doubted. He could physically reach out and touch the Lord. Can you imagine being able to physically reach out and touch Jesus? To have Him come up behind you and pick you up when you fall. To go to coffee with him and bi*ch about your awful week. To have Him calm a storm that is swirling around you?
(Sidenote: He ends up denying Christ three times...that's another story on faith, trust, etc.)
But that last part... to calm the storm. Jesus IS our calm in a storm. He doesn't always calm the storm, but He IS the calm. He is the lighthouse beckoning us to safety. He is the anchor of our souls. The book explained, the physical, tangible Jesus was right in front of Peter and he still had trouble keeping his eyes on Jesus because the waves were so big.
The waves in your life may feel big right now. I know they do in my own. I want to focus on Jesus as the storm is swirling around. I want to focus on the one who calms the storm within my soul. Not focus on the storm itself. In the middle of the storms he asks us, "why do you doubt?" He isn't looking for a list of reasons why you don't, but he wants you to be reminded that we have NO reason to doubt at all. He is the rock. He is our anchor. He is the KING! And He is FOR us, WITH us, and LOVES us. He has gone before us in our lives. He knows what will happen, yet walks us through it all.
Let me give you an excerpt of the book...
"The parallel to our lives is clear. It's easy to have faith when we are safely in the boat-when the wind is gone and the stars are out. But can we trust Jesus in the midst of the storm> Because that is when we need him the most...Jesus got into the boat, 'immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going'(John 6:21) Thats just like Jesus. One moment you are in a storm and you are terrified and confused and alone. But then suddenly, somehow, you are where you wanted to be. You hardly know how you got there. And there was a time not too long before when you thought you'd never make it, that the stops and waves were going to win. But you held on, and God got you through."
I pray if you feel overwhelmed and anxious. If you feel like you're about to drown. If your current loneliness, hardships or sadness feels indefinite, that you wouldn't run. That you would understand the truest, most consistent security in life is Jesus. I pray that you would relinquish that control, and drop the doubt. I pray right now that you would feel lighter, understanding that worry is merely a lack of faith, and not a burden for you to bear. I pray you will say, I choose to believe, I choose to cast all my fears on you, to trust in you, and to choose you.
C.S
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