Sometimes Jesus Sends us into a Storm to Teach us that (with Him) We Can Walk on Water

I awakened last night with thoughts racing like a freight train to nowhere. The prior day ended with unexpected news that left me feeling like we’d been hit by an F5 tornado.

After I tossed & turned, asking why the continued hard, I did the one thing that always brings peace. I opened God’s Word & asked Him to speak.

I read how after a long day of miraculously feeding 5,000, Jesus “insists” that the disciples get back in the boat to cross to the other side. After he sends them off, He heads to the hills to pray.

The word “insist” stood out because what happens next is a big, fat storm without their Savior. 

Again the why question surfaced. Why would You insist they get in the boat knowing full well what was swirling in the skies above? 

Immediately this flooded in like an answer to my own why:

Sometimes Jesus sends us into a storm to teach us that (with Him) we can walk on water.

Wowza!

The storm rages until 3am when Jesus finally comes to their rescue.The disciples are frightened, however, because they don’t recognize Him.

(Sometimes storms can feel so scary that we don’t even recognize our Savior when He walks on water before us!)

He immediately speaks 3 simple sentences:

“Don’t be afraid.

Take courage.

I am here.”

When Peter recognizes His Lord, he says, “if it’s really you, let me come to you walking on water.”

Keep in mind, the storm is STILL raging!

Jesus says, “Yes, come.”

Peter hops overboard & begins to walk on water! But the moment he takes his eyes off Jesus, he is terrified by the wind & waves. He begins to sink & cries, “Save me, Lord!”

Jesus immediately reaches out to save him & asks,

“You have such little faith. Why did you doubt me?”

Then the very moment they climb back in the boat, the storm ceases!

Even the wind & waves obey Him, so regardless of what we face, we need not doubt His ability to save!

Father, even though storms rage about, we are confident we can walk on water with our gaze fixed on You. You promise to keep in perfect peace Him whose thoughts are stayed on You. We trust You & even rejoice for the opportunity to walk on water with You!  Help us take courage & remain unafraid, knowing the Great I AM is here!

#OneYearBible

January 22nd One Year Bible Readings

GENESIS 44:1-45:28

MATTHEW 14:13-36

PSALM 18:37-50

PROVERBS 4:11-13

Academics Doesn’t Equal Education, nor is Knowledge Synonymous with Wisdom

I’ve been working with my friend on the idea of a new model in education. Last night we met with a room full of eager parents who know the weighty responsibility of educating their children. As I sat in the back moving the slide deck along, I felt excitement from head to toe seeing this next generation of parents who understand the difference between education & academics. They know that their children’s education is FAR more than reading, writing & arithmetic.

The word “educate” comes from the Latin root “educo” which means to lead. Academics are a STRATEGY of education. If we only focus on pouring in knowledge, however, we miss out on leading the whole child - the relational, emotional, physical & spiritual facets that also need training.

In the same way that education & academics are not synonymous, neither are wisdom & knowledge. You can have a boatload of knowledge without any wisdom, but I dare say it’d be difficult to be wise without knowledge.

This morning I read something Jesus said that I’ve never noticed:

“Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his store room new gems of truth as well as old.”

The word He uses for gem comes from the same root that we use for thesaurus.It refers to, “a storehouse of synonyms” or “treasures of Truth.”

Y’all, as disciples in the Kingdom of Heaven, we are called to be life-long learners who seek to understand the old laws & new Truths that fulfill them!

We cannot become receptacles of the treasures of Truth if we simply seek knowledge. We can KNOW lots of stuff without knowing the right application or use OF that knowledge, which by definition = wisdom!

Father, guard us from gaining knowledge for the sake of being smart. We seek to become a storehouse of Your synonymous Truths! Any “truth” that opposes your word is not Truth, but simply a cultural norm or personal opinion.

Help us make time to sit & soak in Scripture.Every time we open your Word is like entering a storehouse of precious gems! Let us not mistake academics for education or knowledge for wisdom. Disciple us with Your Truth so we may become disciples of many!

#OneYearBible

January 21st One Year Bible Readings

GENESIS 42:18-43:34

MATTHEW 13:47-14:12

PSALM 18:16-36

PROVERBS 4:7-10

Knowings > Feelings

Last night, my friend & I taught the first part of a parenting class. I’d been up since 3am & was beyond exhausted when I arrived. As I waited for her arrival, I received a text from one of my sons & it said this:

Our circumstances might change

the way we feel, but they shouldn’t 

change the way we know God.

Knowings > Feelings

It was exactly what I needed to hear. My fickle feelings begged for me to bail, but this short text reminded me of Who I know:

My God Who Never Fails

When my guys were little we started, “The God of…” journal. It was a place to record remembrances that would later become rock-like reminders of God’s faithfulness!

Today, as I read Psalm 18, it felt like a page from a “God of” journal! It was written by David the day God finally rescues him from the murderous pursuit of Saul.

He begins with a declaration of his love for the Lord, then writes remembrances of The God Who is his:

Rock

Fortress

Savior

Shield

Power

Safety

Lord who is worthy of praise

Sanctuary

God who hears me

God who fights for me

God whose approach is sometimes shrouded in darkness…

David intimately knew God by each & everyone of those names!

The crevices of the cliffs where they hid from Saul became a reminder of God, his Fortress of protection.

As he fled, he came to know God as His Place of safety.

And as he waited for a seeming slow rescue, God revealed himself as The Lord who hears & Whose approach is sometimes shrouded in darkness.

Y’all we can have confidence as we call upon The God of___. 👈🏽Fill in the blank with Whom you know God was, is & is yet to come!

Let David’s remembrances of Who God was to him become a reminder of Who you know!

Father, thank You that You are a God above all Who sees all! You are our Fortress Who will not fail. When fleeting feelings fill our minds may we remember that knowings are FAR greater than feelings!

Sometimes Your approach seems long in coming & veiled in darkness. Remind us that we serve a God Who is worthy of praise even in the wait for your rescue! When darkness seems to prevail & fickle feelings attempt to take over, remind us Who You are & What You’ve done! We entrust our feelings to You, the God in Whom we Know!

#OneYearBible

January 20th One Year Bible Readings

GENESIS 41:17-42:17

MATTHEW 13:24-46

PSALM 18:1-15

PROVERBS 4:1-6