And he said, Come…

The story told in the midst of a raging storm…

The winds were contrary, the waves hitting hard on the boat… the lives of twelve panic – stricken young men hang on the balance. Twelve hearts palpitating…twenty four eyes squinting in the thick darkness for any thing that would sustain their lives through the storm… twenty four ears alert to the music of the waves that had brought their whole lives flashing before them.

A story of a ghost that appeared sending the entire host in the boat to disarray and the poor hearts and minds of the young sailors trembled with fear… a story of love and power and majesty and total awesomeness… a story of obedient waves and cleared skies… a story of FAITH*.

“And Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on water, to go to Jesus.”

Wow, that’s equivalent to saying, and Kichari Omollo climbed out of the airplane and walked on the mesosphere and breathing pure ozone gases. That’s insane and tantamount to swallowing a few tabs of cyanide::suicidal…  To believe and to defy all laws pertaining to floatation and thus walk on water required some guts, yet Peter, whlist looking to Jesus, walked on water to go to Him, His arm outstretched to him. “And He said, Come.”

What of those moments in your life and mine, when Jesus said Come… well maybe not verbally, but the Bible verse that requires some belief, or the word preached to you the previous Sabbath by the pastor that spoke directly to you… did you get out of the boat in faith? Did you act on His word when He said to you, Get up, your faith has made thee well…or did you doubt the power of His might? Did you doubt that He can give you rest you who are heavy laden?... well…???

“but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

And just like Peter we give credence to the things around us and yet Jesus Christ in His infinite love and mercy is waiting on us to make the move to him and fix our gaze upon Him. Instead we think of the many people that will judge us, and what they will say… we mind the sharks in the waters and think of the multiple troubles we have yet the master called us to come. That is all we are required to do. I can imagine Peter’s companions telling him from behind him to think of what he is doing. They in the ‘safety’ of the boat called him back and told him to stop being a fool and believing that he will make it through. I can imagine the battle in his mind and the anticipation in his heart. Until he finally gave in and started to sink… and at this point looking back to the boat and hoping his fellows would come and save him. but in a split second he remembered his Lord, his savior and redeemer and he cried out to him, Lord save me!!

“AND immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they came into the ship the winds ceased.”

An amazing story with a happy ending. Friend, whatever storm you may be going through in life, hold on the promises of God that He shall hold you and lead you through. Hold on to the faith that Christ shall uphold you. Never focus on the magnitude of the trouble or the storm you are in, never focus on the negative comments that others may utter, never depend on the arm of flesh to save you for it will fail you. Always remember, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”* Call on him with your broken heart and He will hearken unto you and save you. Cry unto Him to lift you out of the miry pit* and He will gladly do so*.

And just like Peter, when faced with the trials, when friends forsake us, when faced with tribulation and temptation… have faith, don’t doubt, just…     walk on the sea, and keep your eyes on Jesus!

*Matthew 14:23 - 32

*Psalm46:1

*Psalm 69

*Matthew 21:21