{Strength in Faith: Matthew 14:22-33}

"Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

~Matthew 14:22-33

You have faced difficulties in your life, whether it was a relationship, the end of a relationship, loss of a loved one, hard times at school, doubt, lack of self-confidence, or anything that brings pain.  Sometimes it's hard to remember that you're not alone in these feelings.  Everyone has felt them.  In these times, though, have you remembered that you're not alone because God did not design you to be separated from Him?  This is the purity of how He made us to be.

Purity is not just being clean and white; purity is living according to our original design.  Our original design is to be completely reliant on God, to have communion with Him, and to love and be loved by Him.  Yet, we are fallen and when we are hurting, we still feel alone - a pain that's hard to overcome on our own.  We've created boats for ourselves to float in, unstably moving by the waves beneath it; even when we step out, we rely on our ability to swim, but still the waves are too powerful.  Why do we insist on doing things our way?  Even when we try to take matters into our own hands, as soon as we call out for help, Jesus will save us, and not let us drown.  We've never walked on water, and we will probably never have the ability to walk on water, but when Jesus calls you out of "your boat" in the midst of a storm, will you keep your eyes on Him, trust His strength, and do the impossible because of your faith that He won't let you drown?  Or will you look at the waves, the pain that's attacking you, and let them drown you?  Jesus always gives you the chance to trust Him; have faith, because you were designed to rely on Him.  When you rely on Jesus, you can walk above, and survive, all that the world is tossing at you, and you will have the joy of falling into His arms when you keep your eyes from looking at the waves.

Listen to this song; let it be a prayer for you today, tomorrow, and every time you feel you don't have strength.