Don't Look Down!

I love the Oregon coast! When our children were young and the pressures of everyday life got too much to handle, we’d pack our car and head for the beach. A few miles out from our destination, a rental house situated 200 yards from the pounding surf, we could smell the salty freshness. Head-pounding problems diminished as we anticipated a time of quiet contemplation sitting on a rock, walking along the wave-strewn path picking up seashells and watching the children chase waves.

Sometimes the waves were quiet and peaceful rolling in, rolling out. It was easy to walk on the packed wet sand barefoot and feel firmness beneath each step. But sometimes storms came up abruptly and waves churned and turned the ocean upside down, spilling dirty debris along the pristine beaches. I’ve watched surfers fight choppy water trying to stay atop their boards and ride the white-capped waves to shore and I’d ask, "who in their right minds would try to walk on that?"

Yet, I read in Matthew 14:28-31 that the Apostle Peter did! He saw Jesus in the water and waves and wanted to be with him. He stepped out of the boat into the churning waves and found he could walk, step by step, to Jesus – until – HE LOOKED DOWN! Uh-oh! He took his eyes off Jesus.

He immediately cried out to Jesus to save him and scripture tells us, "Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand." (The Message)

I’m encouraged to know in the storms of life Jesus knows my heart, my fears, and even my fumbling, yet he graciously reaches down to grab my hand and once again give me a firm footing.


PRAYER: Thank you Lord for not hesitating to help me when I cry out. Amen!