Water Walking 101
This month’s blog is a little different. I hope you enjoy it, and it finds you when you need it most… God Bless!
I occasionally enjoy listening to Steven Furtick , a pastor with Elevation Church. He takes on powerful topics, and this on may be my favorite… Water Walking 101. https://elevationchurch.org/sermons/water-walking-101/ Yes, the Catholic in me struggles a little with the cheering and the music : )… but it’s an awesome message!
If you don’t have an hour to listen… he preaches on Matthew 14: 22-33, the story of Jesus walking on water to the disciples in the storm. I try to summarize his sermon and share some ideas below… and I encourage you to give it a listen as well…
Sometimes we feel like our quiver is full (the world, financial struggle, kids & school, work trials). When we struggle in life (loss, disease, poverty), we tend to blame evil for our trials, yet in this story, Jesus made the disciples get into that boat.
Jesus (not the devil) made the disciples get into the boat (into the storm). He didn’t ask, recommend, suggest... and he knew that he was sending them into something that threatened their lives. He also knew that they needed a lesson in faith. Here are a few of the learnings in this story:
1) Certain Storms are Unavoidable: (physical, emotional, psychological, relational) Sometimes we get so busy getting out of our storm, that we use energy that we could use figuring out what God wants us to learn. It’s important to survive the storm (depression, abuse, loss, economy falling apart). Then, it’s important to go beyond survival – to be a student of the storm.
2) God’s timing is designed to teach you to trust: Jesus didn’t reveal himself until just before dawn (goal not to comfort us, but to change us). So, he shows up late, after many hours of suffering and fear. God’s timing is not necessarily designed to give us relief.
a. Just because I don’t see him doesn’t mean he isn’t watching me. The 4th watch (last part of the nighttime) Jesus went up to a mountain to pray in isolation while they struggled. He was watching the boat the whole time, and chose to act after much of the night.
3) “What if’s “ work both ways: We doubt when things get tough. Sometimes it is easier to give FEAR to the what if, and not FAITH. FEAR is FAITH in the wrong what if. What if we fail?… What if we don’t? What if I can’t do it? What if I CAN do it?
4) The deepest things that God speaks can often be the simplest: Sometimes we’d rather learn new, then practice old. Jesus said “come” to Peter. He didn’t give directions (how to walk on water) just said come. God just gives direction (not details) though we want details. He may only say “Love, Peace, Forgive, Come”
a. The command is the confirmation. He supplies the strength to do it. When I feel like I’m not good enough, remember that He gave me what I need. For example: “I wouldn’t have made you his father if you aren’t able.”
b. Some things that are against you enable you to hear God more clearly. The wind was against them, creating the storm, yet it also carried Jesus’s voice to them.
c. Jesus was amazed by staying in faith. Staying in Faith at all times amazed Jesus vs finding it in times of need. Familiarity can be enemy of Faith (too comfortable). Matthew 8:5 Centurion official said; “Lord I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof, only say the word and my servant shall be healed.”
5) Peter failed the test but he still got the lesson: He fell in the water, and Jesus saved him. The lesson was about Faith.
