Hows going my dear?
Have you ever read a passage and a ‘new’ insight just jumps out at you? Okay, okay. I guess it’s not really that strange. Do you also wonder whether you had noticed that before? Bear with me please, if I already made this deduction with today’s Holy Nougat
“But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.” Matthew 14:30 NLT
What struck me this time around is that even after he lost focus, Peter KNEW that Jesus was his hope! Let’s backtrack a little bit.
Jesus sent the disciples by boat to meet Him on the other side of the lake/sea. It was early morning – the fourth watch (about 3 am). [According to some scholars, that was the time spirits/demons returned from mischief and some commentaries note that sailors often believed that spirits of those who died at sea claimed new souls at that hour!]. It was a stormy night/morning.
Suddenly a figure was seen walking toward them! All disciples got scared, and the waves were high. The one on the water assured them by revealing His identity to them. It was Jesus (or so He claimed). Peter challenged the figure to prove himself. He realized that it was Jesus and somewhere between the challenge and actually getting to Jesus, Peter begins to sink and cries to Jesus in desperation.
It’s a bit profound, isn’t it, that Peter in his fear cried out to whatever was walking on the water. He challenged the ‘ghost’ to prove he was Jesus and then falls AFTER the proof was given. Previously, I maintained that Peter might have gotten sidetracked for the wrong reason, but we also recall that Peter was often the one who grasped the truth about Jesus’ divine identity. In fact, it was Peter who fell at Jesus’ feet when they caught the excess fish. Could it be that Peter forgot he was ON the water and was overwhelmed by the fact that Jesus was truly ahead of him, and not a spirit coming to claim their lives?
But I digressed. What really registered was that sandwiched between the moments of Fear, were moments of Faith!
Fear of sprits – – –
Faith step into (actually atop) the lake.
Fear of drowning – – –
Faith cry for Jesus to save him
So our Faith walk isn’t over if; rather WHEN; we get fearful. Nope. We all face fierce storms in our boats. And sometimes we even wonder whether the voice we hear or the help we sense is truly Jesus. I guess that’s when we prayerfully Step out of the boat.
Then it may seem to be back on even keel (even our worship life got back on track), when Boom! Out of nowhere, we’re sinking!
Don’t give up my dear. We Shamelessly, Faithfully though pitifully, cry out to Jesus past the fear and expect the rescue! For, if we’re not dead, we’re not out. And if we did die at that moment, we’d have died with our faith restored.
As strange as it sounds, it’s a win-win situation when we cry out in faith even after we begin to drown.
What do you think?
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
