“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I, be not afraid.” Matthew 14:27 (KJV)
“But Jesus spoke to them at once, “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Matthew 14:27 (NLT)
Often, in the midst of our “storms”, we get so caught up in the trouble and the “waves”, that we don’t recognize Jesus when He comes to meet us. So many times, He sends “help” our way, and we swear that it can’t be Him because of the form that it comes in. We declare, as the disciples did, in verse 26, that it’s “a spirit” (y’all know we quick to blame something on the devil…lol).
We even have brave moments and become like Peter, and challenge God to prove that it’s Him. …”Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” (Matthew 14:28) But, like Peter, instead of looking to Jesus in the storm, we look directly at the storm. Then we need to call on the Lord to save us. “But when he saw the wind boysterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:30)
Now, it’s always good to call on the Lord, He wants us to do that; but when we look at our problems instead of Him, we are doing double duty. You see, we’ve already called on Him to prove that it’s Him showing Himself in our lives…..and guess what? He shows up. Then, when we step out on that limb…..take that risk…..take that leap of faith…..start that new venture, we begin to look at ALL the things that could possibly go wrong, and we get scared; we begin to sink. Then we gotta call on Him to save us from ourselves. Yep…OURSELVES…because He’s already delivered us from the storm. God wouldn’t let us “walk on water” if He knew we’d drown….so those waters, with His help, must be safe. But because we look at that lightning bolt, that big grey storm cloud, and that deathly huge wave, instead of the creator of them, and we become uneasy and we begin to sink.
We must learn to look to the SON through the storm so that we have no question about where our help will come from. Now, the “when” is a totally different story…but the WHO remains constant. So, go ahead and call on God, but trust that He will answer when you do. In fact, He’s so good, so faithful, that He’s answered BEFORE we’ve asked! “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and whiles they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24
So, as the winds of life blow you every way but free, look to Jesus to rescue you and don’t be afraid of those waves. God is GREATER than the waves…..I mean, He did create them!
Love y’all,
Ms. A.M.White
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