Focus on Jesus, Not the Storm - Matthew 14 Blog
I thoroughly enjoyed reading in Matthew 14 during my Time Alone With God as one of my favorite sections of scripture is in this chapter. Let’s take a look at it: “Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s You,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to You on the water.’ ‘Come,’ He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:25-31 NIV) This story is amazing AND should really speak to us as Christians. Peter gets blessed with this situation where he gets to walk on water with Jesus. That would be such an incredible experience. ✳NOTICE - Peter actually walks on the water while he is focused on Jesus as he is walking towards Him. Peter sinks when he turns his focus away from Jesus and toward the winds (the storm). Then, of course, Jesus immediately reaches a hand out to save Peter as he begins to sink in the water. This incredible experience comes to an end because Peter stops focusing on Jesus and begins to lose faith in the midst of this storm. I can think of far several times in my life when my faith in the Lord was so strong (walk on water kind of faith) and I’m just enjoying all of these amazing experiences with the Lord. But, eventually the enemy gets jealous and feels threatened and thus brings some type of discouraging distraction (storm) into my path that causes my focus to go from HUGE FAITH in Jesus, to a feeling of “I Can’t Do It” and feeling defeated with this new giant/storm in my way. Such a shame to allow this amazing faith and these amazing experiences to be interrupted by the enemy.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I’m sure we’ve all experienced what I just talked about and likely multiple times. Can I just encourage us now to PREPARE ahead of time. (If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail). How can we prepare... Before those storms come your way, already have in mind the VICTORIES you’ve experienced with Jesus. David killed bears and lions that he could think back to before he faced Goliath. So, have your amazing victories in mind before that new storm comes, because then you will know you can make it through any storm with Jesus just like you have in the past. My other suggestion is, STOP FOCUSING ON THE SIZE OF THE STORM AND START FOCUSING ON THE SIZE OF OUR GOD. Jesus can easily calm the storm: “The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ He asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.’” (Luke 8:24-25 NIV). FOCUS ON JESUS THROUGH THE THICK AND THIN and everything will go according to His good and perfect plan for your life.
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