"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:29, 30)
Oh that I would have this kind of focus on Christ! Jesus had come to the disciples walking on the water in the midst of a squall. They were rowing, fighting against the tide when they looked out and saw the Master coming to them atop the storm waters. It's no wonder they were afraid. No doubt they were used to the storms, but to see someone walking across the waters as one would walk down the sidewalk had to be unsettling. Yet, there He was. A welcome sight, to be sure - the One with Whom they had been walking side-by-side these past few months. Yet here in this situation they saw Him. They thought they had left Him behind until they could arrange to go back and get Him. Here He came - in the middle of their storm.
Many times I have had this very situation in my own life. Storms of life - either normal or abnormal - have come against me, hindering my progress, threatening to end my journey, causing me to struggle against the wind and the waves. Many times I thought it might be over for me, yet here He came - walking above and across my situation to come to my rescue. Interestingly enough, in the gospel of Mark it records that Jesus would have passed them by except that they cried out to Him. How many times have I been saved because I cried out? How about you? Jesus had given them a command to cross over, and it would seem He would have let them struggle against the winds and waves if they chose to. Instead, with a simple call out for His aide, He came to them. How many times have you and I chosen to just tough it out or fight it on our own because we either don't recognize Him or we feel we don't deserve His help? Lord help us!
Mark doesn't record the account of Peter walking to Jesus on the water, but Matthew does. Interestingly enough, Jesus didn't wait until He was in the boat first and the storm subsided before He let Peter try to walk outside the boat. Instead, He called to Peter when the storm was still raging. Water-walking is not a safe-weather exercise, apparently. It doesn't matter what the surroundings are. If Jesus calls you, you go. But it started with Peter. Peter saw Jesus doing the extreme - walking on water, yes. But walking on the water in the middle of a raging storm! In THAT moment, Peter wanted to join Jesus. And in that moment, Jesus calls to you and me to join Him.
It would naturally seem to be easier to do one impossible thing at a time when our surroundings are more favorable. Then we can afford to be a little risky. But it is during the height of the storm raging against us that Jesus calls us to do the impossible. He wants us to know that, no matter what is going on, He is STILL the Lord over all - and wants us to join Him in achieving the impossible.
What is He calling you to do right now? He isn't waiting for the storm to pass before He asks you to come. Come right now. Don't pay attention to the health crisis you are facing. Don't worry about the bill collectors houding your phone constantly. Don't fear the natural situations that are threatening - perhaps your very life! - just come. Come in the middle of your mess. Come in the middle of your crisis. Come when it is least likely you will succeed. Come.
Oh that we would have that kind of focus and desire! Come.
Be blessed.
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