|
And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:29-30 NASB) |
|
Sinking feeling For millennia, Bible students have noted the purposeful phraseology – Peter sank when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the wind. Of course, one can’t really see wind, so Peter was likely noticing its effect on the waves. In your world, the wind may seem very high right now, blinding you with spume and whitecaps. The walk of faith may be threatened by legitimate storms. Peter would understand. I do as well. Yet Peter would remind us that the only solution is to fix our eyes upon Jesus. The wind may be howling, yet Jesus is more formidable. The waves may be tossing, yet Christ has power over them. As Peter’s fellow apostle Paul wrote from prison:
For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16 HCSB) When we look to Him, we can walk through all the storms with confidence. Paul wrote the above while watching horrible persecution take shape against Christians. Augustine quoted it as barbarians destroy his beloved country. Ethan the Ezrahite said the same in Psalm 89 – specifically noting that even through storms, happiness is found in walking “in the light of YHWH’s presence.” I pray that you and I will lift our eyes to Jesus and walk in light of His presence. Anything less will merely contribute to that sinking feeling. |