Peter had the faith to step out into the storm to go to Jesus. And although he became distracted by the wind and faltered, when he fixed his focus back on Jesus, he was safe again.
Lately I have been too afraid to take the initial step out of the boat. I am afraid to go to Jesus because of the difficulty surrounding my journey to reach Him. I would rather stay on the unsteady boat than find comfort in the arms of my Savior. He kept Peter safe, even when he began to drown. He will keep me safe whenever I focus on Him.
Being in the water probably wasn't high on Peter's list of places to be. But at that moment it was better than any place else he could have ever wanted to be, since he was with Jesus.
This is something I understand, but is it something I believe? Am I ready to be in a miserable place, knowing that Jesus is holding me in His arms, or would I prefer to keep Him at a distance, so I could remain in a more comfortable place (by human standards)?
"Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24) I do not have a lack of belief. I believe that Jesus is the Christ, and He has the power to save my soul. I believe that God loves me, despite my imperfections, and wants to have a relationship with me. I believe that through Him all things can be done, and I wil not lack in anything. But I still, at times, have a crisis of faith. I do not always have faith that God will do and take care of the other things. God promises food and shelter. Beyond that, none of His promises are physical. And it is often the physical that I desire. And they do not seem like bad desires. I do not seek wealth or fame or status or anything that glorifies myself. I long for a family and people to love who will love me back. But do I long for that more than I long for a right relationship with God? Am I trying to settle for what I think is best when God has something better in store for me if I am patient?
Hebrews 13:5 - Being content with what you have.
Philippians 4:11 - "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in."
Paul did not want, yet God supplied. My wants are spiritual - love, encouragement, strength, support. Yet the way I wish to receive them may not be the way God chooses to reveal them to me.
These things I want from God, yet what am I doing for Him? I sit and mope as I long for the things I want instead of going out and making the most of my time without them. I am so worried about the future and so caught up in the past that I can not live in the present. "Forgetting what lies behind... " (Philippians 3:13). Do I have so little faith that God will bring about good things in my life that I feel the ned to hold on to former good things? And as I look ahead, my hope is built on the things I think should be, which is still a measure of faith, but it is only partial, conditional faith.
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