(After feeding the five thousand) "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"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 (and waves), 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?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
I so often ... feel like Peter. I've experienced the loving touch of Jesus Christ; I've witnessed the extraordinary miracles in the lives of others and my own; And like Peter, I've come to place my faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God through whom I live. Although my faith has been strengthened by all these wonderful events, there are still momentsthat I catch myself looking at the whipping winds and fretting over the enormous waves during my voyage through this life. In that moment, when I take my eyes of the loving care of Jesus and rather look at the problem I'm facing, my faith becomes threatened, my anxiety weighs heavy upon me, and I begin to sink into the sea of doubt, sadness, and fear.
Yet, I love how through our defeat, God's love remains victorious. I love how Jesus always comes to my rescue, reaching out his hand to catch me, and remind me that "His love never fails; He never leaves my side ... that He has a hold of me".
When Peter began to sink, He cried out "Lord Save Me" and "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught Him" , reminding Peter ... "You of little faith ... why did you worry, why did you doubt?".
His love never leaves us. Jesus stands by our side, He is always with us ... loving us, helping us, guiding us, and caring for us.
When we let Jesus into our boat (like Peter), it is then we forget about whats around us (troubling us), and we focus on what's holding us together. The love of God -- Jesus Christ. In that moment, the winds die down, the waves level out, and our storm ceases.
Jesus is the Peace that will calm all your troubled seas. Have faith in His Love. :) God bless You Always!
{Psalm 34:18} - The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit.
{Isaiah 40:11} - HE tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart..."
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