July 26

“When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.”    —JOHN 6:19

Life is designed to run with risk. Planes, for instance, are designed to fly, but accidents happen when they’re taking off, in flight or landing, so it would seem the safest place for a plane is sitting on the runway. But it’s also the most useless place because planes were made to fly. In a similar way, we were intended to live lives that are going to involve risk; not reckless risk of our own choosing, but risk that comes from obeying the Lord Jesus. Sadly, there are many Christians who would rather remain safe on the tarmac, and consequently, have never moved forward in their walk with God, nor deepened their experience of Him.

On this particular occasion, Jesus had just finished feeding a crowd of over 5,000, and had told His disciples to take the boat across the lake of Galilee towards their home in Capernaum. It was the middle of the night, in the middle of a lake and in the midst of a raging storm. To add to their peril, they saw what they thought was a ghost, walking upon water towards them. Understandably, they were terrified and screamed out. Jesus answered immediately, “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid” (John 6:20). “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter said, “tell me to come out to you on the water.” “Come,” Jesus replied (Matthew 14:28-29).

Peter saw and realized what many of us fail to realize when turbulence hits our lives. He saw the stormy sea that threatened to be over his head was under the feet of Jesus. He risked getting out of the boat, and walked on water towards Him. His focus was entirely on Jesus, but the moment he felt the wind, he took his focus off Him, and began to sink. In our own trials and hardships, if we take our focus off Jesus we will resort to our own capabilities, and inevitably, we’ll begin to sink. 

It’s the easiest thing in the world to become conditioned to relying on ourselves. We may adhere to different programs and techniques, and can sit in church Sunday after Sunday, but have no idea of the actual experiencing of God in our lives. Sometimes it takes a storm. We were made to step out in faith, and experience God in ways we never would if we stayed on the tarmac. Like Peter, we need to be disciples who get our hair wet!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, What a blessing You are in the storms of my life. Keep me always focused on You and, like Peter, grant me the courage to get my hair wet.

TO REFLECT UPON: Are there times I am reluctant to step out in faith? What difference would it make if I focused entirely on Jesus and not on my own abilities?