Jumping the Waves

This cold weather has me thinking of warmer days…and the beach. I've loved the ocean since I was a little girl. One of my favorite memories is my Daddy helping me jump the waves. He would take me by my hand, and we would wade out into the surf. Then he would stand behind me, holding my hands in his, and he would pull me up while I jumped each foamy roll. As we went further the waves would get bigger. He would lift me up over the small waves as well as the big ones. But once, distracted by maybe what my brother was doing or talking to my Mom, a wave smacked me square in the face! Was I hurt, no. Was my life in danger, no. He had never let go of my hands. But I tell you, I was done with the ocean for that day! The tears came and I cried out in shock. I was ready to pack the car and head home! Done with the beach, why, the nerve of that ocean to do me that way! Do you see where I'm going?

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against 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?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33

I can sympathize with Peter. My trust is in God, but I get distracted by the chaos around me. I find myself praying the same prayer, Lord save me! I remind myself often that God is Sovereign, God is good, and God is with us, because I definitely have the feeling of being in a storm. I can see the waves and they are mighty. I can't jump them on my own. But I know that God is with me, just as Jesus was with the disciples in the storm.

Believer, we can weather whatever we face because we know Jesus is with us. Let's keep our eyes fixed on the Master of the waves. We recently sang in church, “the same power that can calm the raging sea lives in us!” Let's not be of little faith, but let's be brave enough to step out on our convictions. Brave enough to defy our fear of the waves around us. Brave enough to be a beacon to others in the storm. My fellow boat travelers, the storm might smack us a good one, but take heart – Jesus has a firm grip on our hands.