Month: April 2024

When I am struggling to let go and to trust in Jesus, I think of the scene in Matthew’s Gospel that unfolds after Jesus has fed 5,000 people.

It’s evening now, near the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus asks the disciples to get into their boat and to travel before Him, to the other side of the water. Jesus goes off to pray by Himself. Returning to the shore later on, Jesus sees that the boat is now near the middle of the sea, so He begins walking on the water toward the boat.

When the disciples see Jesus, they are terrified. They think they are seeing a ghost! Jesus calls to them, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” Matthew 15: 27.

Peter, still skeptical, says to Jesus, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” (Matthew 15: 28)

Here’s what happens:

“He [Jesus] said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to Peter, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.” Matthew 14: 29-32

How many times have I done this? Called out to Jesus for help, only to turn away from Jesus later that day, worried that somehow His advice isn’t good enough?

The setting for this scene is intentionally powerful. In the middle of the Sea of Galilee, at night, the disciples are physically vulnerable. Remember at first, they think a ghost is coming toward them. They cannot jump from the boat and run to shore – humans cannot walk on water! Swimming to shore will be slow and difficult as well.

As the disciples realize it is Jesus, fully human, walking on the water, they witness the Power of His Divinity. The Divine Jesus who invites Peter to walk on the water reveals to all of us His desire to strengthen our human capabilities with His Divine Power. When Peter responds to Jesus with a heart full of joy and trust, he too walks on water! Amazing! With Jesus, there is nothing that we cannot do.

But then the wind picks up and Peter becomes afraid. His mind fills with doubt, and Peter begins to sink into the waves. Peter calls for Jesus, and the Savior is right there, extending His hand to pull Peter out of the water to safety.  

The point of the story is undeniable — Jesus wants to share His Loving Power and Mercy with all of us.

Jesus calls constantly for us, drawing us to the boundaries that we fear, and asking us to walk with Him to the places where we worry that we are not enough.

Why?

Because it is at the edge of our capacities that we encounter Jesus.

What would happen today if I trusted completely in Jesus?

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior.” Hillsong UNITED, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),” 2013.

You come to me in waves, Jesus.

My awareness of You, and all that You are, comes in waves and washes over me. The beauty of all that You are fills me with wonder, as I watch for you by the water.

I look for You in big signs — in the great, strong winds, but You are not there. I look for You in the earthquakes and fires, but You are not there. Instead, I find You in the silence, Your voice so still and small that it draws me to my knees. (1 Kings 19: 11-13)

In the silence, I recall You telling Your disciples that You and the Father are One. (John 10: 30)

Your beloved disciple and friend, John, who knew You so well, tells me that God is Love, and whoever lives in Love lives in God, and God lives in Him. (1 John 4: 16) John also tells me that a Love which is perfect casts out fear. This fear of my sinfulness and imperfection is not from God, for perfect Love washes away all fear. (1 John 4: 18) I bow my head, humbled by Your Love.

In the silence, I recall Your teachings, Jesus – all of them centered on loving one another, as the Father loves us. When I love someone, this is how that person knows that I love You, Jesus. (John 13: 34-35) And you tell me over and again to forgive others, because God forgives me. (Mark 11: 25)

In the silence, I recall your death and resurrection, Your ultimate act of Love and Mercy. (John Chapters 19 and 20). I see and understand that You came so that we all may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10: 10) And because You and the Father are One, I see that from the beginning, this was God’s plan, to love each of us richly and with mercy, for God knows that all of His creation is made in goodness. (Genesis 1: 31)

In the silence, I am reminded of Your final prayers before Your death, for Your disciples and for all of us: 

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (John 17: 3)

In the silence, I realize that eternal life begins here on earth, when I turn to You, Jesus, and ask that You make my life and my plans Your Own. Knowing that I am made in God’s image (Genesis 1: 27), I understand that I was made to share in eternal life with the Father and the Son, even if the world tries to tell me otherwise. I lift my head, filled with the knowledge of this precious gift.

You come to me in waves, Jesus.

In the silence, I call to You. The prophet Isaiah assures me that You are among us, even though there is no beauty or majesty to attract us to You. (Isaiah 53: 2-3) You show up in unexpected ways, Jesus, because You want to know that I sincerely long for You. You desire that I search for You because of how You Love, not because of how You look or because of the Power that You possess.

You come to me in waves, Jesus, when I am ready to move forward with You. In the silence, I know that my life is infinitely better because of You.

Thank you for loving me, Jesus.

Thank you for loving us, Jesus.

Dearest Holy Spirit, please draw all of us nearer to Jesus each day, so that God may draw nearer to us. (James 4:8)

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