without hesitation
A little boy was learning how to ride his bike.
He had asked his father to take him outside so he could practice while his father held onto the back of the seat… running beside.
The boy was doing incredibly well and was fairly confident that he could ride on his own. His father agreed – so they started one more time… the dad running beside the boy, holding onto the bicycle seat.
The father knew he could let go and the boy would be able to ride on his own – so, he did. He let go and continued running right beside the boy. The boy was laughing as the wind blew through his hair… even after he realized that his dad wasn’t holding onto his seat anymore he giggled.
Then the boy looked down.
He stopped peddling and lost complete control of the bike and fell.
The boy’s father didn’t hesitate.
In an instant the dad was by his son’s side pulling him up. He asked, “What happened?” The boy cried in response, “I looked down and I got scared.”
There is a similar story in the book of Matthew. I’ve read it so many times… but – this time something new caught my eye.
Jesus has just gotten the news that John the baptist has been executed. He tries to slip away and take some alone time by the boat – but the crowd follows Him and He has compassion on them… This is what leads into the feeding of the five-thousand.
After everyone has been fed, He sends His disciples off in the boat to go to the other side… and Jesus finally gets the alone time to grieve.
Later that night, around 4am, the disciples are far out at sea…
“Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea
when the wind came up against them
and they were battered by the waves.”
Then they see it.
Someone out in the middle of the sea… walking!
“At about four o’clock in the morning,
Jesus came toward them walking on
the water. They were scared out of
their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying
out in terror.”
Matthew 14:24-26
You may know this story… Jesus is walking on the water towards the disciples who are in a boat. At first the disciples were scared – but when Jesus shows them it is Him one disciple just couldn’t contain Himself! 😉
Peter, in his excitement, calls out, “Jesus – call out for me to come to you so I can walk on water too!” And Jesus does…
Peter jumps out of the boat and is walking on the water towards Jesus.
Okay, let’s pause for a minute – if you have heard this story growing up like I have, I think it can lose it’s shock factor.
First of all… JESUS IS WALKING ON WATER PEOPLE!
Our God – He is not bound by anything in this world…
not time,
not gravity,
not money,
not storms,
not water!
Secondly… PETER WAS WALKING ON WATER!
Peter is just a regular guy… struggles with doubt… often acts before He thinks… {hmmm… sounds like me…}
So – here we are –
Peter has jumped out to join Jesus walking on the water {can you imagine?!}.
Then it hits him…
Peter is walking in the deepest part of the sea and – it made no sense.
The waves were crashing.
It was scary.
And as he looked around him, he began to sink.
Okay – THAT is the part I recall of hearing this story as a kid… And I can sure relate to the application – Take your eyes off Jesus and you sink… right?
But check this out:
You know what Jesus did?
Jesus didn’t hesitate.
In Peter’s time of need and weakness Jesus didn’t hesitate!
A friend of mine posted a picture on their wall of Peter sinking in the water and Jesus standing on the water next to him… pulling Peter up. A beautiful picture reminding us to press into Jesus in those moments when we are overwhelmed and struggling to keep our eyes fixed on our Savior…
See, it isn’t about the sinking – but about the God who shows up… without hesitation.
It isn’t about the sinking ~ but about the God who shows up without hesitation.
This morning while I was getting ready for my day, I found myself feeling overwhelmed with some hard feelings that I had and that I had caused in someone else. I started praying for the situation… that I would be wise with my words and communicate the other person’s value to me over the circumstance. Not 30 seconds into the prayer my mind wanders… This is a glimpse of what it looked like: (maybe you can relate?}
Me: I am so frustrated that this person is making this all about them, Lord… they are stealing my hurt feelings. Why am I bothering… ugh. This is so heavy… Lord, I want to invite you in to this junk. Give me a humble heart that is forgiving and help my actions to demonstrate your grace and love… Man, I can’t believe they are doing this – don’t they realize how much this hurts me?
The Lord’s gentle whisper: Eyes on me!
Me: Oh yeah… ugh. Father – I’m struggling with this… Please help their heart to change – do you see what it is they have done? How do I get through this? I mean, why did they say what they said and do what they did – how could the intent not be to hurt me? Please change my heart… I am so angry about this and want to just walk away.
The Lord: Eyes on me!
Me: Lord you are so gracious… so loving… it isn’t about the stuff around me and the circumstances – it just isn’t. But – I am so frustrated and can’t stop focusing on the hurt. I can’t believe that they did this…. and that…. and I sure would like to give them a piece of my mind!… and on and on…
Ever pray like that?
Later that morning I was meeting with a friend to get some work done… She asked how I was doing and I was able to share a bit of the situation with her. Jesus spoke through her to encourage me to let the struggle and hurt go and my heart was feeling at ease… My friend ended up having to cut our meeting time short – giving me the opportunity prayerfully respond to this person I was struggling with.
Just like Peter… In the midst of feeling like I was in an impossible situation where I would need to forgive for the same thing again…
I would start looking at the struggle around me.
I would start looking at the impossible –
“This is too heavy”…
and in that moment, Jesus showed up.
Nothing is wasted with our God… even the sinking. He takes my ugly… and shows up to transform it into His beautiful.
“Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up.
Expect God to get here soon.”
Psalm 31:24
