This devotion this morning comes from a powerful moment in Matthew chapter 14, where Jesus walks on water to meet His disciples in the middle of a storm.
Imagine the scene: the boat is being tossed by the waves, the wind is against them, and fear is setting in. Suddenly, they see a figure walking on the water, and they are terrified, thinking it's a ghost. But Jesus calls out to them, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
It's here that Peter, with a flash of bold faith, says, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." And Jesus gives him a simple, yet profound, invitation: "Come."
Peter steps out of the boat and, for a moment, he is walking on water. He is doing the impossible, defying the laws of nature. His faith is holding him up. But then, the Bible says he saw the wind. He took his eyes off of Jesus and began to look at the storm. And as soon as his focus shifted from the Savior to the circumstances, his faith wavered, and he began to sink.
Peter sank not because the water lost its power to hold him up, but because his faith was no longer anchored to the One who commanded it. He sank because he started focusing on the chaos around him instead of the peace in front of him.
In our own lives, we are often called to step out in faith. We step out of our comfort zones, off the safe boat, and onto the water. We might be stepping into a new job, a difficult conversation, or a season of uncertainty. As long as our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we can do the impossible. We can walk through the storm without sinking. But the moment we shift our focus to the fears, the doubts, and the winds of worry, we begin to falter.
The good news is that just as soon as Peter cried out, "Lord, save me," Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him. He didn't say, "I told you so." He was right there to save him.
Today, as you face whatever storms are in your life, remember the lesson from Peter. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Don't let the noise of the wind or the waves of your circumstances distract you. He is with you, and His hand is always ready to save you when you start to sink.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that you are always with us, even in the midst of our storms. Help us to keep our eyes on you and our faith anchored in your strength. When we begin to sink, remind us to cry out to you, for we know your hand is always there to lift us up. In Jesus' name, Amen.
- Starbuck Landry
RSS Feed