Are you sinking in a storm? Is your sight steady on your Savior who gives you the strength to stand?

Matthew 14:22-33

In this passage we see Jesus send his disciples out on a ship.  The waves get restless, the wind starts to stir up, and Jesus comes walking on the water towards them.  The disciples are afraid, but Jesus assures them that it is alright (vs. 27: “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”).  Peter still doubted and asked: “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” (vs. 28).

Sometimes, we are in a storm or a trial, but Jesus come by and tell us “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” but we still doubt.  We want God to show himself and He asks us to step out in faith.  He asks us to come out a bit farther out of our comfort zone and trust Him.  When we finally give in to what He wants, we step out.  BUT if you read in verse 30, it says the following: “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried saying, Lord, save me.”  Many times, though we actually take that step of faith, in the middle of our trusting, we begin to doubt and stumble.  We start to look at the storm around us instead of focusing on Christ.  This causes us to sink.  We go to Christ when we have no other resource; we cry out to Him, just like Peter did when he began to sink.  God is always there to pick us up when we fall, but we do not have to let it come to that.

God wants us to stand in our storm, and only in His power can we stand.  Alone we are nothing, alone we are weak, powerless and unable to resist.  That is why we need to stay focused on Christ, His will for me, and trust Him completely all the time.  We should not look around at our circumstances!  Is there any reason for me not to trust Him?  If He is faithful no matter the circumstance, what makes it right for me to take my eyes off Him?  If He is in constant care of us, what makes me think He will allow unnecessary pain to come to me?  If He is powerful no matter what, what makes it reasonable for me to doubt Him?  His power is what is holding it all.  He is the Master of the wind and storm.

In verse 33, the disciples realized that God truly is the Son of God.  We should not have to doubt that.  He is powerful enough to hold us through any storm, but we fail Him and look away from Him.  We look at how bad we have it, how horrible our situation is, and take our focus off of Christ.  We need to stop looking to see how big our troubles are, and see how big our God is!  He has never given me any reason not to trust Him, why should I doubt His ability to see me through?  Let’s keep our focus on Him even through the difficulties, even when we cannot see the way out, even when we do not think it is possible.  He is the Master; He just wants me to trust Him completely to carry me through.  Trust HIS strength to help you stand through the storm.