"Bloom Where You Are Planted"

We’ve heard this story many times throughout our years. I relate to it..over and over again. Jesus had just, I mean minutes before, fed the five thousand with the five loaves and fishes. The disciples had witnessed the miracle right before their eyes. It wasn’t the first time they’d seen him do miracles, and it wouldn’t be the last, but human nature being what it is..it wasn’t enough. Jesus told them to get into the boat and go to the other side of the lake. I can imagine they were more than happy to get on that boat. It had been a long day managing and feeding the crowds. A little respite while they traveled to the other side was surely welcomed. If it were me, I’d be thinking, “Cool. He’s watching out for us by giving us a break from the crowds and allowing us some rest. What an awesome God.”

And yet….Jesus had sent them into the boat knowing they were headed right into a storm. Within moments the disciples went from an exhilarating day with Jesus straight into a storm. I’m certain, this was not expected and likely not appreciated. The Bible doesn’t say, but I can imagine that some of them were angry that when they were doing exactly what Jesus was asking of them, He still sent them into a storm. It would seem natural to think that God should always save us from such discomfort and seemingly needless fear and stress. But, as this story proves, Jesus had the situation under control.

Scripture says that “Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake”. He walked through the wind and rough waters, out to meet them. Apparently they couldn’t recognize Jesus because they thought He was a ghost. Peter asked Him to prove Himself by telling him to come walk on the water with Him. Jesus says “Come”. Peter jumped out of the boat and started walking toward Him. He’s doing it. He’s walking on water and then it happened. Peter took his focus off of Jesus and saw his circumstances. The wind, the raging waters, and his obvious vulnerability gripped Peter with fear and he began to sink. How often and how quickly do we do this same thing? Take our focus off of Jesus and begin sinking in our circumstances?

You have to give Peter credit for jumping out of the boat and walking as far as He did. He didn’t argue. He didn’t look at his circumstances first. He focused on Jesus. The trust he had learned to have for Him, caused him to immediately act. So, Peter had made progress in his spiritual growth. Although we all have a “spirit man” within us. That “spirit man” has to be fed, trained, developed, and strengthened. Peter was in the ultimate learning environment. He was there, with Jesus every day. Yet, he too had to go through the continuing process of training or exercising his “spirit man”. The “spirit man” was quick to jump out of the boat and follow Jesus. But, the natural man quickly rose up and took over. The result; a temporary setback for Peter. Temporary because as soon as Peter started to sink, he shouted to Jesus, “Save me!”, and He did. Jesus reached out and saved him. But then came the question that must have penetrated deep into Peter’s heart. “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

In spite of all we know and have seen, we still doubt. I’d like to say that after all the years I have served the Lord, that I no longer become fearful of my circumstances and allow myself to sink in them. God has proven Himself to me over and over again and yet. I can say that I am stronger than I used to be, but not as strong as I hope to become. It’s a process of growing and exercising faith. As we learn to focus on Jesus throughout each day, the circumstances won’t knock us down as often or as quickly. Our “spirit man” becomes stronger. But when we do get knocked down and we will, the sooner we recognize our doubting and turn to Jesus and say, “Save me.”, the sooner we will experience His calm. Sometimes God will calms the storm and other times He calms us. But regardless, He will come. He will reach out. He will meet us at our need if we but ask.

Matthew 14:22-34