Ready When You Are

When I was about 4 years old, I was sticking my feet in the pool.

I had no idea how to swim, but I was having so much fun in the water. Now, when I was younger, I was a bit of a rebel. I remember thinking, in that moment, “How hard can swimming be? I got this.” So, when no one was looking, I stepped off the last stair and immediately went under. I began to flail my arms in a panic. I was so afraid because I simply didn’t know what to do. It was a miracle that someone jumped in the pool and saved me just in time. It was a very traumatizing experience. I actually didn’t step foot in a pool for years and didn’t end up learning how to swim until I was twelve. You see, the fear about that day crippled me for years. It was just so hard for me to trust that I would never drown again.

Has fear ever crippled you? Are you in need of a miracle? You’re not alone. The story in Matthew 14 reminds us of the One we can put our hope and trust in… Jesus. It says:

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

- Matthew 14:22-33

Sometimes, life throws us curve balls. We wind up like Peter, beginning to sink into all our doubts, problems, and circumstances - in fear of what may happen, in fear that we might not make it through, or we fear that God isn’t going to come through for us.

Let me remind you that God is still the God of miracles.

Jesus is waiting on the water for you telling you to “come” and find rest, if only you’ll trust Him. The moment Peter began to doubt or let fear take the lead, he began to sink. Are you sinking? Are you allowing your emotions or circumstances to make you sink when you should be sinking into the arms of Jesus? If so, then my advice to you is take courage and don’t be afraid. Fear can be so crippling. But, just as Jesus witnessed Peter sinking as he cried out, “Lord, save me!” God is present in your situation. God has His hands extended toward you always – ready when you are. Have faith, family.

Trust Him, and He will come through for you.

Som Tami

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