SHARE THIS POSTLife sends a lot our way. And I think it’s less about what happens to us but how we react to it. Do we react in faith or fear? I think the answer depends on what we are focused on. When we focus on the problem, we sink, when we focus on Jesus, we stay above our circumstances.
The Storm
We can read in Matthew 14:24 about a boat that was well out into the water and was being buffeted and pushed around by the waves and the wind. The people in the boat were distracted, all could they focus on were the wind and waves. They forgot that Jesus had just said, “We’re going to the other side.” It’s not just the family, the kids, or the job. Everyone has distractions that cause them to take their eyes off of the last thing Jesus told them.
The Focus
Meanwhile, back on land, Jesus concluded his prayers and walked on the water. Peter saw him and said, “Lord is it you?” (He was investigating.) Jesus said, “Yes it is me.” Peter starts walking on the water (or we could say he started the business or the church). He was focused on Jesus, and he was magnifying Jesus and exalting Jesus.
The Distraction
Then all of a sudden the wind and waves start hitting him, and he says, “JESUS!” (As he begins to sink.) “I don’t think I can walk on the water when it’s windy.” So Jesus responds, “You can’t walk on the water when it’s NOT windy!” (Just kidding, that’s MY paraphrase of how it went down.) If we don’t take our eyes off of Jesus, we can stay above our circumstances instead of getting mired down in them.
Be Encouraged
Peter took his eyes off of the promise and put them on the problem. So if cancer is saying it’s going to kill you, you have to focus on the fact that Jesus healed you 2000 years ago. When the economy says you’re going under and can’t afford this, you have to say, “He meets all of my needs according to his riches in glory. (Philippians 4:19). I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed out begging for bread (Psalm 37:25).” We need to keep our eyes on the main thing, and that’s Jesus. Amen!
