I'm pretty pumped because in less than 2 week I'll be 24! I'm so excited because of a few reasons. Reason #1 I hate the number 23 because it's a prime number (I do not like any prime number. I know it's weird but it's true.) Reason #2 The Lord has not just promised blessings this year, but in particular once I turn 24. Good things have happened, but BETTER things are on it's way and I am PUMPED! :-)
Last week the Lord place a blessing on my heart that I want to share. It's about the story in Matthew 14 where Peter walks on water. This is an excellent passage that I've heard preached on several times but last week the Lord placed a greater meaning in my heart about this passage that I have never noticed before. Here's the story for you to read first:
"22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning[b] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here![c]”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong[d] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said.“Why did you doubt me?”
32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
34 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. 36 They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed."
Matthew 14:22-34
I love how the beginning of the passage starts out saying,"Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake.." (Matt.14:22). Jesus told his disciples to leave, knowing that they were going to be caught in a wind storm, but he still told them to go. Actually he insisted they go. Many times we find ourselves being called to go somewhere. The Lord has made his plan very clear and we are to follow it, but halfway on the journey we find ourselves in a storm, with no land in sight. So here you are, in the middle of this lake being tossed, turned, and struggling to find the energy to keep your boat from turning over. In this story it says in was 3am by the time Jesus appeared. You know these guys were feeling delirious from exhaustion at this point, so exhausted that they did not even recognize that it was Jesus walking towards them, they thought it was a ghost! But the cool part is that when he got to them he said, "Don't be afraid! Take courage, I am here!" What comfort this had to be for the men, you know they were scared out of their mind and they were ready for a break from the storm. But the Lord did not stop the storm immediately. Instead, Peter ask that if it is truly him, he will bid him to come out onto the water with him. So here's Peter stepping out of the boat (the only thing that was keeping them safe at the moment) and starts heading out into the raging waters! What faith this took to get out of the boat! I picture the other men looking at Peter thinking, "This man is crazy! Can't he see the raging waves? HE COULD DIE OUT THERE!" But despite what others thought, Peter stepped out of the boat. As he's walking towards Jesus, he becomes aware of what he's doing. He realizes he is out in a major wind storm with massive waves that could take his life in an instant and this is when he begins to sink. He calls out to the Lord and says "Save me Lord!" and the Lord comes and lifts him out of the water and says "“Why did you doubt me?”. I kinda picture Jesus saying this with a little giggle in his voice. It wasn't until Jesus grabbed Peter and got into the boat that the storm stopped. The disciples then continued on there journey and reached their destination and many were healed!
It's easy to think that when we are doing what we feel the Lord has called us to do and we find ourselves struggling we begin to doubt whether the Lord has really called us to go down this particular path or we begin to think about what we did wrong to cause all the struggle we are experiencing. This story teaches us that the Lord DOES send us down paths at times that have storms along the way. These storms are going to break us, make us lose all our energy, and maybe our sanity as well. But as in this story, Jesus WILL come and tell us " Don't be afraid. Take courage, I am here!" He then wants us to lose all doubt and get out of our comfort zone and come to him, despite how big the waves might look on the journey! One of my favorite parts in this story is how He shows us that even when we doubt, we will not drown, he will come save us! The end of this story is over looked too. In the end many were healed because the disciples did as the Lord told them and went where he told them to go.
Whatever your journey might look like, no matter the darkness or the struggles along the way, you will make it to dry land and fulfill whatever the Lord has called you to do. Learn from Peter and don't doubt, the Lord will not only take you back to the boat but he will also stop the storm and bring you to dry land. He will not abandon you! That is a promise.
And NO......... you did not do anything to cause the struggle you are going through if you are doing as the Lord has told you to do.
I send my love to you all!
Awesome message, Emily! Continue spreading COMPASSION and quench condemnation to His bride! Bless you!
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