When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, as related in the gospel account (Matthew 14:22-33), he asks whether he can come to Him, if it is really Jesus that the disciples are seeing. Jesus replies, “Come”. So, Peter gets out of the ship and begins walking toward Jesus across the water. At first everything is fine, but as Peter nears Jesus, his attention is distracted by the boisterous conditions and he begins to doubt. He loses his focus on Jesus and immediately begins to sink. Jesus reaches out and lifts Peter up and both of them climb aboard the vessel.
In our day, today, we face metaphorically what Peter faced physically, though the root issue is the same, spiritually speaking. In some ways there is the storm of the world going on around us. There is much to take our attention and divert our gaze and trust away from Jesus Christ. We are tempted to question the goodness of God, to wonder where his blessings are. Also, particularly in the West, to become unthankful for inestimable blessings that we often take for granted. The goal of all these temptations is to obscure our view of Jesus. If we surrender, then like Peter, we begin to sink – first perhaps into bitterness and envy, but other sins will assuredly follow.
The antidote today is the same as it was in Peter’s day: exercise faith, do not allow the world to obscure our view of Jesus. Put our trust in him. I remind myself often that no matter what happens, no matter how crazy and how dis-jointed this world has become, God is good. Even in the trials of life, He has promised to work those trials out in such a way that ultimately it will be for my good (Phil. 1:6, Rom. 8:29). I don’t see God working in the world with my eye, but I know that He is. He is accomplishing his will in ways that I cannot perceive with my limited senses. I don’t see the way, but I know that He will triumph in the end. The Bible is clear about that. 🙂
I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
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The Lord redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Ps. 34:1-3, 22
* Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cosmicherb70/14277229595 by Chris Combe. Released under the CC License.
