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Walkin on Water

Matthew 14:27-32 "....Jesus immediately said. 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.' 'Lord, if it's you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water.' 'Come,' He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him..."

Why is it the disciples were always caught in a storm on a boat? This time they are caught on the boat and Jesus is not with them. But in verse 26 they see him walking toward them on the water and they think he is a ghost! Can you even imagine? You are on a boat with huge waves pounding you and the wind going crazy, only to look over the bow and there is someone...or something...walking toward you ON TOP of the water. I can't say I blame them on this one. I might have freaked out a little, too.

Jesus calls out to reassure them and then Peter - always Peter - says, "Prove it. Tell me to come to you." So Jesus did and Peter did. For a few minutes anyway. And here is my question: If Peter wasn't sure it was Jesus, why did he get out of the boat? But always impulsive Peter jumps right out and for a few minutes he's doing great walking on water...looking at Jesus...feeling the wind...looking at the waves...starting to sink...

Are you in the middle of a storm? Got some wind and a few waves going on in your life? Are you in the boat or out? Peter was a bit impulsive, but he made a specific request of the Lord - "Tell me to come to You." Jesus gave Peter the command we all should obey - one word - Come. So Peter did. Sometimes it's easy to take that first step - sometimes, not so much. But we get out there and we are walking through our storm and we are looking at Jesus and then something distracts us. A little gust of wind blows us slightly off balance and the next thing you know we are focused on the waves instead of the Lord.

Are you just overwhelmed by your circumstances? Feel like you are drowning? I am SO there with you right now. Maybe, just maybe, we have taken our focus off Jesus. Maybe, we need to check out good ol' boy Peter one more time. What did he do when he started to sink? He cried out. He didn't make a quiet request. He didn't say when you can or if it's your will...He cried out the one request that is sure to get an answer. "Save me!" The scripture says Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught Peter. He was there in an instant. Jesus didn't reach out and change Peter's circumstances. He didn't calm the wind and the waves this time. He didn't miraculously spirit Peter over to the boat. I think He held Peter's hand the rest of the way and then they climbed in the boat together.

If you are drowning in your circumstances today, cry out to Jesus. Whatever they are, He will be there in an instant. He may not change them and He may not take you away from them, but He WILL walk with you through them. I am thinking I need Jesus to catch me today. How about you?

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