Unless I miss my guess I would suspect all of us have, at one time or another, had that “sinking feeling.” For sure, that “lovin’ feeling” is better.
The times we have our backs against the wall and see no way out.
The times we have tried all we can to “right the ship” and it goes down like Titanic.
The times we have felt overwhelmed by life’s circumstances and want to cower in desperation.
The times we feel we have no where to turn or feel like we have no one to turn to.
This all came to my mind as I was reading from this passage Monday morning. Verse 30 got me thinking: “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ “
I am sure you have probably heard the applications to this story. The storm. Peter’s request. Peter’s panic. Peter’s cry of desperation. Jesus’ hand hold. Jesus’ question. What I am thinking is nothing new. I would not be surprised if someone, in some pulpit this past Sunday used this story as his text. What stuck out to me again was the application I have used: Peter was doing fine as long as he kept His eyes on the Master, but as soon as his eyes wandered to the storm, he began to sink.
YEP… BEEN THERE… DONE THAT… STILL TEND TO…
I’m not proud of that fact, but it is the truth. I know the Psalms that talk about “the refuge in the storm” and “the hiding place.” I know the one that says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (121:1-2) And “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (27:1)
But I also want to go on record that just because I believe He is in control and just because I believe He is there doesn’t mean the storm will dissipate or even go away for good. Rocky seas may prevail-more than I want or longer than I want. Speaking positive confession does not do the trick. Casting the mountain into the sea may take longer than I want.
BUT ONE THING I CAN COUNT ON IS HIS STEADFAST LOVE! HE WILL NEVER LEAVE ME OR FORSAKE ME.
Several years ago I heard my brother sing this song. I wish his version could be heard because it is better. 
And no, I am not prejudiced. 
I hope, if nothing else, it speaks to your heart if you are going through a sinking time right now.
Any thoughts?
As I mentioned in Monday’s post that is the one thing that every song we sang on Sunday came back to. To be still and trust. So very hard to do- to let go of the need for my own control and let Him direct my paths. i go back to Matt Redman’s song- you never let go (which we sang in church) and it hits me just how much he truly loves me. *sigh* now to rest in that… especially when upheaval is the norm at the present…
(and I remember this song too- he did do a great job!)
Resting in that is the key.
For whatever reason, I think Jesus has let me be in a storm for some time. And now he is bringing me to a point of calming the storm. And I just need to look to Him.
Glad you seem to be heading out of the storm and finding the calm. never stop looking to Him.
Do you think that if we had 100% proof of God’s existence so that faith and hope were not required, that fear would rapidly diminish to nothing? Said another way, isn’t our fear a measure of our unbelief in God?
You are way too smart for me Daniel but fear is an indicator of our “trust factor.” I would say you are right in your assessment.
None of us have very much faith. That’s just the way we are wired. We wish to be in control.
Worry is one of the chief signs of a lack of trust in God. Jesus told us not to do it.
Howe many want to say that they never worry about anything?
I have had people tell me that they never worry. And then they will speak to me about someone who owes them money. Jesus told us to forget about that as well.
I can’t do it.
But He still loves me…not because of my best efforts….but in spite of them.
Worry is a very real presence in many lives, even those who say they don’t. I too am glad He still loves me.
I’ve done some pretty in depth Bible studies on the subject of fear over the last several years. I was wallowed deep in my fear and it took the being in that storm to find the true heart of God in it. It is in the storm that we grow stronger, wiser. The storms most likely will not change for us until our perspective does…
I agree Floyd. In the storm is where we find what God can do and how we can grow. An easy time does not equal growth.
Wait…storms end?
Unfortunately, sometimes they last a really long time.
Thanks for helping us look at this, for when the storms don’t seem to diminish. I really liked Floyd’s words, that our storms won’t change until our perspective does. I have a daughter that has seizures. It’s been ongoing for 20 years. They aren’t able to be controlled like when she was little. But, God constantly protects her from injury and is here with us during this kind of storm.
God bless you during yours!
20 years is a long time to struggle with something. Praying God will continue to sustain you and protect your daughter.
Ha – I was just reading this with my children yesterday. We can laugh at Peter, but I take my eyes off Christ all the time too! A text like this comes along and reminds me of how I need to be living.
I can’t and don’t laugh at Peter. He is too much like me…or is that I am too much like him?