The will of God may be painful but is always perfect. As long as we stay in God’s will, we are completely immortal. No enemy can take us out, destroy us or even annihilate us. No distraction must remove us from our destiny. No persecution must hinder us from progression and no tool must cut us off from our testimony. Don’t get me wrong, it is not going to be a smooth sail, on the contrary, we will be constantly under attack but the trial will not prosper against us, it will only be a formed weapon, nothing more.
For every new level you grow to, you will meet new devils. The umlimited Omnipotent power of God will forever supercede the limited power of the evil one. The trained fishermen that knew all storms and winds were afraid in the boat (Matthew 14:22-31). So even the most qualified of soldiers will have to war against bigger battles. The storms that threatened the disciples were the waters and winds they were familiar with. Yet these were subject to the power of Christ and obeyed him as he walked on the rushing waters and stilled the raging winds.
They were under his feet and he promises us that all storms will be put under our feet and all trials will be crushed under the power of Christ. We will tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and serpent we will trample underfoot. The eye of the storm is the heart of the storm but is also believed to be the calmest point of the storm so even when we are in the midst of adversity, God’s power is made perfect in our weakness to keep us calm and strong. Whatever the devil intends for evil in our lives God changes for Good. The wind was strong, which caused the boat to be tossed by the waves even as trials often toss us about in life’s stormy seas. However, Jesus Christ came to the disciples to comfort them even as God has given the Holy Spirit to comfort us. God comforts us in our trials through the Holy Spirit so that we can know better how to comfort others in their trials.
The disciples reacted with fear. However, Jesus Christ instructed the disciples not to be afraid. We may react with fear to our sore trials, but God comforts us and pours out his love on us through the Holy Spirit. Perfect love casts out fear because it is a sacrificial love. There are 365 verses in the bible that remind us “Do Not Fear”. Coincidence, I think not. I believe God wants us to have a divine promise to not be afraid for every day of the year, renewed every morning. Peter had some doubt if the one whom he saw walking on the water was really Jesus Christ. We may often doubt if God is really with us and if the Holy Spirit is guiding us. Jesus Christ told Peter to come to him on the water. Peter displayed his faith by taking bold steps out of the boat onto the water. He was bold enough to walk on the instruction of Christ even though the road did not look too inviting. When Jesus Christ bids us to come, we need to go because he knows the journeys end and will not lead us where his grace is insufficient to keep us. When we are bold enough to take the first steps of faith, God is faithful enough to direct our paths.
As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus Christ, he was able to walk on the water and go toward him. As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, we can make spiritual progress regardless of the trials and difficult circumstances that surround us. We know that all things work together for good to those whom God has called and who love God and keep his commandments (Romans 8:26). However, when Peter took his eyes off Jesus Christ, he began to sink. Although Peter’s name means “rock,” he did not sink as the Rock that is higher than him, Jesus Christ allowed Peter to begin to sink and caught him before he drowned. The soles of his feet began to go below the surface of the water. If we take our eyes off Jesus Christ and begin to focus on negative conditions surrounding our lives, we begin to sink spiritually.
Peter was an experienced fisherman and probably could swim. Yet, he was in danger because of the severity of the storm. He needed the strength of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to survive this storm. Likewise, we cannot rely on our own strength alone to survive the storms and trials of life. We need God’s help through the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter cried out to Christ for help and as quick as the words left his mouth, Jesus rescued him. When we feel like we are sinking in our walk of faith, we should cry out to God to deliver us from our trials with the power of the Holy Spirit quickly. Don’t wait to drown, while you have breath call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Just as Jesus Christ saved Peter from sinking in the sea, God rescues us with the Holy Spirit when we begin to sink in the storms of life.
Get out of the boat, tbe Lord is waiting and all circumstances are under your feet. Be steadfast, immovable and focused on Christ and he will never leave you, nor forsake you, he will not abandon you. When the oceans rise, just soar. Use the strength of the storm like an eagle does to elevate itself above the storm. As long as you have eye to eye contact with the one who calms the storm, you will walk on all terrain. A yielded, surrended life to Christ is a life destined for greatness. So go on, be great, destined and a storm overcomer.
Prayer Thought
Dear Lord , I pray this day that the very storms of my life are now under my feet in Jesus name.I declare that I will rise above floods and my feet will be set on higher ground.Help me Holy spirit to be focused on Jesus at all times.Establish my feet in your presence, root my heart with your word and keep me settled in your will.Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.As I walk on the water Lord , keep your eye over me and your hand extended to me.Hear me when I call and save me should I fall.Thank you Jesus for being my stillness in the midst of turbulence and my refuge in the midst of raging waters. In Jesus name I pray.Amen.
Hazel Moodley