Eyes Forward

Do you feel caught up in a storm that you can’t seem to escape?

I want to focus on the story of Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14. I’m sure you’ve heard this story before, but I want to focus on before he stepped out of the boat. Verse 24 tells us the boat was already away from the shore, battered from the waves, and that the winds were against them. This is crucial to the story because it tells us that the storm had already started. Jesus was already on His way, but they didn’t know that yet because all they could see around them was the storm. Verse 26 the disciples cry out that they see a ghost, but it was Jesus. Why did they not recognize Him, especially after they had spent so much time with Him? Storms cloud your vision. *Pun intended*

On a serious note, when you feel like you can’t find Jesus in the situation maybe it’s because you are focusing on the wrong things. You are focusing too much on what is happening around you and not enough on what Jesus is trying to do inside of you. An example of focusing on the storm and not Jesus is over-buying groceries or toilet paper. Let me remind you of what happened to Peter when he began to let the storm be the loudest voice in his life: he began to sink. Peter was faithful and walking straight towards Jesus, until he saw the strength of the winds. You give power to your fears by not giving them to God. Immediately, Peter cried out to Jesus asking Him to save him. Without hesitation, Jesus reached out to him and said, “You of little faith, why do you doubt?”

If we can be honest for a moment, we live in a very broken world. A world that needs saving. If we cry out to God in the midst of the storm, He will not hesitate to deliver us from what we feel we are drowning in. Peter had enough faith to cry out to Jesus and He came through, so what makes you think He won’t do the same for you? In Psalm 145:29 it tells us that “He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them.” Jesus sat in the boat with the disciples and the wind ceased. The moment the disciples knew Jesus was present, they had peace and they worshiped Him. I know that in the midst of this madness that God is still present, it is when we choose to acknowledge He’s there that we can begin to embrace His faithfulness and peace.

I was watching a movie and there were two brothers trying to figure out how to get to the other side without a bridge. The younger one had to believe in the invisible because once he questioned what held him up he fell straight down. If he turned around and looked back, he would become unsteady in his walk and he would lose faith because he started doubting.The older brother had a rope around the younger one’s waist and every time he fell he immediately pulled his brother back up. Eventually, the younger of the two was walking and gaining confidence with every step. His walk began shaky, doubtful, and fearful, but his faith in what was keeping him steady began to grow. He couldn’t see what was holding up his steps, but he knew it would be there because it had proven itself to him. All while the younger was walking and learning, his brother was there to pull him back up without hesitation. He watched with joy as his brother learned to walk in confidence and faithfulness. It is the same concept with God. God is going to get you out of your comfort zone because He knows that is where you will grow the most. He will be with you every single step of the way, and ready to catch you when you fall. Moving backwards is not an option, and you cannot move forward without your eyes set straight ahead on the One who has already paved a way for you. God is standing there encouraging you to take another step and each new step forward roots a deeper sense of faith. He will be there through every storm that you seem caught in, but you have to focus on Him instead of the strength of the winds around you. So I tell you, in the midst of the storm… eyes forward.