Very often when we commit to God,
we don’t fully understand the life we choose. I recall that when I committed to
Christ, I was told that believers live by faith but I know now that I didn’t fully
grasp what that translates to. Faith sounds super spiritual and exciting when
it is only linked to receiving things from God but that is such a myopic interpretation
of the just living by faith. We give up on our faith so easily because we don’t
fully understand the consequence of living by faith. It only gets clearer as an
honest and sincere walk with God deepens. Only then does it gradually sink in.
It is often not as exciting as it
sounds, to “acknowledge God in all our ways” because He then directs our path
and His preferred path is often not our path of choice; this is the albatross. Though
He may leave you in your comfort zone for a while, He gradually draws one to
the place where one is confused and helpless. The writer of the song “Oceans” describes
it as “the great unknown where feet may fail” and “life without borders.” Life
sometimes gets confusing when one walks with God. It isn’t always together.
Mathew 14: 24 – 27
“Meanwhile the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind
had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the
morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water, they were terrified. In
their fear, they cried out, it’s a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them at once.’
Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘Take courage, I am here!”
Sometimes one makes a decision
which seems right to all, but God is pushing another decision deep within you. You
want to ignore His persistent voice but then you hate to disobey Him and He refuses
to align with your desire. Bear in mind that His counsel often contradicts “reality,”
so that obeying Him would, from time to time, take you to the place where you don’t
understand what is going on; you just trust that He does. Of course His plan
will eventually unfold and His wisdom be revealed. I can imagine how confused His
disciples were when as they crossed to the other side, upon His instruction,
they faced difficulty. The waters were so stormy that they fought to keep from
drowning; they were so focused on saving their lives that they did not even recognize
Jesus as He walked toward them.
Sometimes it is such a struggle
and we are struggling so much in our strength, we don’t see or recognize Him when
He appears. Unfortunately, He does not always appear in the same way. I am
comforted by the fact that Jesus understands that this is a tough way to live
and knows that we would sometimes sink so He remains just a call away; yet we
may miss Him if we are consumed with our difficulties. He expresses His love
for us in not walking away even when we miss Him. He makes several other efforts
to help us see or discern Him and/or His help. He can never be accused of not
trying enough.
Mathew 14: 28 – 29
“Then Peter called to Him, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you,
walking on the water.’ ‘Yes, Come,’ Jesus said.”
Who would imagine that Jesus
would ask Peter to step out of the boat without first fixing the storm; but such
is God’s way with us. His instructions often require us to act despite our
fears. He doesn’t have to fix the storm to bring one through it. We must keep
walking despite fear, trusting the voice that leads us. If we feel like we are
sinking again, it is okay to cry out. We must learn to accept guidance from the
Sovereign Hand which we don’t see but trust. O! What loss we suffer when we are
guided by fear.
Mathew 14: 30 – 31
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to
sink. Save me Lord! He shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.
You have so little faith. Jesus said. Why did you doubt me?”
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