Matthew 14:28-33
“Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”
Jesus said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid and started to sink. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”
When they got into the boat the wind stopped blowing. The men in the boat bowed down in front of Jesus and said, “You are truly the Son of God.”
When thinking about this past week, this verse came to mind.
I would have moments where I would start to fear and stress about future events that I couldn’t control. Before I could get too sucked in I could feel God nudge me and I would focus on this phrase “Count it all as joy” (James 1:2-4 ESV). Then I was at peace. I was looking to God not my circumstances. I was allowing God and not my circumstances to dictate me. No matter the outcome I have God. I have Jesus.
Yesterday I did not focus on God. I did not “Count it all as joy”. I beat myself up about everything that happened. I failed in many ways throughout the day. I was miserable and on the verge of tears at any given moment. Towards the end of the night the future fear I had came to happen and I was crushed. I felt alone. I was mad at myself. I was upset with God. To go off of Matthew 14, I was starting to drown in the ocean. I went to bed still not focusing on God, but hoping in things I couldn't control.
In the middle of the night I was hit again with the reality of my circumstances and was made aware of even more negative things that were happening. I knew what I needed to do, but I didn’t want to look to God. I didn’t want to seek Him in His Word.
Thankfully I did. It may have come to Him as a begrudging teen spending time with their dad because they knew they had to, but I definitely didn’t leave that way. I left at peace. I left connected. As in Matthew 14 the wind had stopped. The waves are still here, but the wind is gone.
I encourage you to seek God daily. To seek Him every moment. To set aside time to spend specifically with Him as you would anyone you care about. While everything may not go great, you will be able to count it all joy and bring that joy to others.
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