What my Father Does
I woke up this morning, and my first thought was of Peter stepping out of the boat in the Scripture in Matthew about Jesus walking on water. Ok, full disclosure...my actual first thought was, "I'm going to Dunkin..." but then after that, I thought about Peter. I don't always wake up super spiritual, but I do often wake up super hungry!
As I was driving, I just began walking through this scripture in my head, asking the Lord what he had for me in it. I have spent a lot of time camped out in Matthew 14, over the years. I know this scripture inside and out, and yet even this morning, God revealed more to me. I love how living and active His Word is, fluid to the core.
Let me give you the CSV (Cole's shortened version). The disciples had just witnessed Jesus feed over 5,000 people from five loaves of bread and two fish. They were fresh off of a miracle experience as they boarded the boat at Jesus's command. I am sure at this point, they were willing to do whatever he said. As he sent his friends on across the water, and cleared the crowds, Jesus went up to a mountainside to pray. I can imagine that even Jesus was overwhelmed by His Father's provision and was desperate for a few moments alone, to sit with the Lord in thankfulness and praise. While there was peace on the mountainside, a storm was brewing in the sea. Jesus watched as the boat was tossed by the waves. Scripture doesn't clarify, but I can imagine in this moment, Jesus watched in anticipation of how his followers would react. Would they be afraid? Would they be anxious as this storm rocked their boat and left them with shaky footing? Or would they recall all that they had just experienced hours earlier and claim their rescue in Jesus before they actually received it?
Late in the night, after the storm had raged for a while, Jesus approached the boat, walking on water. When the disciples saw him walking toward them, scripture tells us they were terrified and didn't immediately recognize him. They were looking right at Jesus, he was directly in front of them, but they were so blinded by their fear that they didn't even recognize their dear friend in the flesh. Jesus spoke to his friends, "Take courage, it is I...don't be afraid" Well, Peter wasn't so sure. He wanted to believe Jesus was with him, but he still carried doubt. (Oh, how I relate)
"Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water..." "Come," Jesus said.
Immediately, Peter stepped out of the boat. He had heard His Savior speak. He recognized his voice. He trusted in what he could not clearly see. When he stepped out of that boat, Peter had a moment of immense faith- and for one glorious moment in time, he did what was impossible because he had his eyes on the Waymaker. As the storm around him continued to rage, and he was pelted with the waves, the wind burning his skin, the howling of the seas hindering his ability to hear Jesus's voice, Peter began to focus on his circumstances and all the uncertain things around him. He looked toward the wave that was rising, and took his eyes off Jesus. And when he did, friends, he began to sink under the weight of his circumstances. As he noticed he was no longer walking, he cried out, "Lord, Save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him close, reminding him that he did not have to doubt, the one who walks on water, who calms the raging sea had him. Together, they climbed back into the boat. Everyone who had seen what happened, fell down in worship. "Truly you are the son of God..."
I noticed several things about the disciples response when they saw Jesus in this passage:
1). They were afraid. Fear overtook them. (v. 26)
2). They doubted Jesus was really with them, even though they had experienced his miracle working just hours earlier. (v. 28)
These two things preceded their understanding that they were in fact in the presence of Jesus. They saw a figure on the water, but did not clearly understand Jesus was with them at this point, instead focusing on their worries.
3). Immense faith (v. 29)
Peter's immediate response to Jesus speaking to him was to step out of that boat and walk toward him. He had zero doubts, no fears, he abandoned all of that at the words of his Father. What an act of faith!
4). Attention to circumstances; distraction (v. 30)
For a brief moment, a moment of weakness, Peter focused on the storm raging around him, and he began to sink into it. How often are we Peter? We wake up ready to face the day in bold faith, with whatever it brings, and suddenly, we are thrown off course by the distractions around us. Can you relate?
5). Desperation/Rescue (v. 30)
The result of Peter's shift of focus, was complete desperation. Without Jesus, he would truly die. He was sinking into the despair of all that raged around him. But, Jesus, in all his mercy determined Peter was worth rescuing and redemption. Jesus knew that a short lapse in faith on Peter's part, didn't disqualify Peter from grace. He reached out and drew Peter back into His presence, and in a way he hadn't before, Peter felt Jesus's arms holding him, restoring him. Oh, my friends how I have been there.
6). Worship (v. 33)
All those who witnessed this, grew in their faith and worshiped the Lord because of what they saw happen with Peter. They witnessed Peter's weakness, and they saw Jesus rescue him. Because Jesus is sufficient and His power is made perfect through our weakness, many fell down and worshiped him, confident of His presence. I can't help but think, perhaps Jesus called Peter out on the water, knowing he would doubt, knowing that through Peter's failures, God would get the glory. I am convinced Peter's faith grew in enormous proportions that way, as he tucked away this moment in time to be recalled the next time he grew weary in the storm. Remember what God has done friends, and believe that He will do it again.
We have those moments in time where all that is surrounding us seems uncertain and scary- maybe you find yourselves in a situation like that right now. Like the disciples, perhaps your vision is clouded at times and you are overwhelmed by the circumstances swirling around you. But, Jesus has you. He's got this. He knows the seasons of your life that will rattle you, and he may even call you out into uncertain waters during those times. You may feel like you are sinking in failure and discouragement, but in His perfect timing, He will extend his hand and pull you back up flooding your heart with promises and reassurances of who He is. He is enough. He will remind you, that as the popular song says, your failures don't define you, cause that's what your Father does.
Enjoy the song below, and remember that what looks to us like weakness, is a canvas for His grace...
As I was driving, I just began walking through this scripture in my head, asking the Lord what he had for me in it. I have spent a lot of time camped out in Matthew 14, over the years. I know this scripture inside and out, and yet even this morning, God revealed more to me. I love how living and active His Word is, fluid to the core.
Let me give you the CSV (Cole's shortened version). The disciples had just witnessed Jesus feed over 5,000 people from five loaves of bread and two fish. They were fresh off of a miracle experience as they boarded the boat at Jesus's command. I am sure at this point, they were willing to do whatever he said. As he sent his friends on across the water, and cleared the crowds, Jesus went up to a mountainside to pray. I can imagine that even Jesus was overwhelmed by His Father's provision and was desperate for a few moments alone, to sit with the Lord in thankfulness and praise. While there was peace on the mountainside, a storm was brewing in the sea. Jesus watched as the boat was tossed by the waves. Scripture doesn't clarify, but I can imagine in this moment, Jesus watched in anticipation of how his followers would react. Would they be afraid? Would they be anxious as this storm rocked their boat and left them with shaky footing? Or would they recall all that they had just experienced hours earlier and claim their rescue in Jesus before they actually received it?
Late in the night, after the storm had raged for a while, Jesus approached the boat, walking on water. When the disciples saw him walking toward them, scripture tells us they were terrified and didn't immediately recognize him. They were looking right at Jesus, he was directly in front of them, but they were so blinded by their fear that they didn't even recognize their dear friend in the flesh. Jesus spoke to his friends, "Take courage, it is I...don't be afraid" Well, Peter wasn't so sure. He wanted to believe Jesus was with him, but he still carried doubt. (Oh, how I relate)
"Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water..." "Come," Jesus said.
Immediately, Peter stepped out of the boat. He had heard His Savior speak. He recognized his voice. He trusted in what he could not clearly see. When he stepped out of that boat, Peter had a moment of immense faith- and for one glorious moment in time, he did what was impossible because he had his eyes on the Waymaker. As the storm around him continued to rage, and he was pelted with the waves, the wind burning his skin, the howling of the seas hindering his ability to hear Jesus's voice, Peter began to focus on his circumstances and all the uncertain things around him. He looked toward the wave that was rising, and took his eyes off Jesus. And when he did, friends, he began to sink under the weight of his circumstances. As he noticed he was no longer walking, he cried out, "Lord, Save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him close, reminding him that he did not have to doubt, the one who walks on water, who calms the raging sea had him. Together, they climbed back into the boat. Everyone who had seen what happened, fell down in worship. "Truly you are the son of God..."
I noticed several things about the disciples response when they saw Jesus in this passage:
1). They were afraid. Fear overtook them. (v. 26)
2). They doubted Jesus was really with them, even though they had experienced his miracle working just hours earlier. (v. 28)
These two things preceded their understanding that they were in fact in the presence of Jesus. They saw a figure on the water, but did not clearly understand Jesus was with them at this point, instead focusing on their worries.
3). Immense faith (v. 29)
Peter's immediate response to Jesus speaking to him was to step out of that boat and walk toward him. He had zero doubts, no fears, he abandoned all of that at the words of his Father. What an act of faith!
4). Attention to circumstances; distraction (v. 30)
For a brief moment, a moment of weakness, Peter focused on the storm raging around him, and he began to sink into it. How often are we Peter? We wake up ready to face the day in bold faith, with whatever it brings, and suddenly, we are thrown off course by the distractions around us. Can you relate?
5). Desperation/Rescue (v. 30)
The result of Peter's shift of focus, was complete desperation. Without Jesus, he would truly die. He was sinking into the despair of all that raged around him. But, Jesus, in all his mercy determined Peter was worth rescuing and redemption. Jesus knew that a short lapse in faith on Peter's part, didn't disqualify Peter from grace. He reached out and drew Peter back into His presence, and in a way he hadn't before, Peter felt Jesus's arms holding him, restoring him. Oh, my friends how I have been there.
6). Worship (v. 33)
All those who witnessed this, grew in their faith and worshiped the Lord because of what they saw happen with Peter. They witnessed Peter's weakness, and they saw Jesus rescue him. Because Jesus is sufficient and His power is made perfect through our weakness, many fell down and worshiped him, confident of His presence. I can't help but think, perhaps Jesus called Peter out on the water, knowing he would doubt, knowing that through Peter's failures, God would get the glory. I am convinced Peter's faith grew in enormous proportions that way, as he tucked away this moment in time to be recalled the next time he grew weary in the storm. Remember what God has done friends, and believe that He will do it again.
We have those moments in time where all that is surrounding us seems uncertain and scary- maybe you find yourselves in a situation like that right now. Like the disciples, perhaps your vision is clouded at times and you are overwhelmed by the circumstances swirling around you. But, Jesus has you. He's got this. He knows the seasons of your life that will rattle you, and he may even call you out into uncertain waters during those times. You may feel like you are sinking in failure and discouragement, but in His perfect timing, He will extend his hand and pull you back up flooding your heart with promises and reassurances of who He is. He is enough. He will remind you, that as the popular song says, your failures don't define you, cause that's what your Father does.
Enjoy the song below, and remember that what looks to us like weakness, is a canvas for His grace...
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