Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV)
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
I tend to think I'm pretty good at trusting God. I trust Him to provide for my family. I trust Him to keep me healthy. I trust Him with my future. I just trust Him because He is my help and my salvation.
But every once in a while, I notice the wind.
I start to sink.
I see my dad working hard. I see my mom's frustrations. I see my brothers annoyed with each other. I find myself annoyed with others, with my situations in life, looking at my future wondering when things will happen.
I cry out to God, "Why, Lord? Pull me from this ocean of worry and care and distrust. Lord, save me!"
And do you want to know something? He does. I remember verse 31 "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'"
He may not give me calm waters, but I can feel His hand holding mine. I know that He is in control. God loves me and He allows trials, frustrations and tears because of His love. I am God's child. When a father loves his child he disciplines them. I am reminded of a passage in Hebrews.
Hebrews 12:7-8 says: "It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children, and not sons."
When we are disciplined it shows that we are His true children. Hebrews 12:9 talks about how we respect our fathers after they discipline us, then in verse 10 it says; "For they discipline us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness." When God disciplines us, it is for our best interest and helps us to grow in our maturity.
I just wrote a sweet little paragraph about how god holds my hands once I ask Him and all that, but I had to erase it. You know why? Because not only does He hold my hand, but He also holds me. I am in His tender loving care no matter what, and He continues to protect and watch over me even when I am completely distracted by the winds of life. I am still His child.
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