Saturday - Read today:
Pages 114 to 116 - The Way-40 Days of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
When He Noticed The Strong Wind
“Peter answered him and said, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.’
He said, ‘Come!’
Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, ‘You are truly the Son of God!’”(Matthew 14:28-33)
He is eighty-three years old, this man I care about a great deal. He was diagnosed with cancer six months ago. The oncologist gave him little hope. His mind is sharp and his heart is strong. He lives on his own and still makes six-hour car trips to visit children and grandchildren. He it to the soccer, volleyball, and basketball games of his four grandnieces and nephews. He loves life. But he lives with this news that he has cancer that can’t be treated.
We prayed together last night. As we finished, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, “I wake up each day determined to fight this. It is hard, but I try not to think about the cancer. I keep looking to the Lord, trusting him.”
Peter’s attempt to walk on the water with Jesus is a favorite story of so many people who read Matthew’s gospel. Peter, as he often did, showed a remarkable burst of initial faith and courage: “Jesus, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28). But as soon as the strong winds came, he took his eyes off of Jesus, became frightened, and started to sink, He cried out, “Lord save me!” Jesus reached out his hand, caught Peter, and helped him into the boat. The Jesus climbed into the boat with him.
For nearly 2,000 years, Christians have seen in this story the call to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus when passing through storms at sea. If we trust him and focus on him either rather than on the waves, we find the ability to walk “even through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4). That’s what my dear friend taught me once more last night, as he held my hand and told me his strategy for living with terminal cancer.
When you find yourself walking in the darkness through the wind and waves, what’s your strategy?
Jesus, help me when I wake each day to place my hand in your hand and keep my eyes focused, not on my circumstances, but on you. Amen.
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