Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
He took his eyes off You.
Peter. When he set shaky legs on the liquid walkway between the boat and You. He snuck a peak at the power surge of storm surrounding him, felt the flow of wave beneath. And then he balked.
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!” (Matthew 14:29-30)
He strayed his eyes from Your sure figure and set his sights to circumstance, peels the skin of his humanity. And so of course he starts to sink—when it becomes all about situation and himself.
If the rough fisherman only would have fixed his gaze and thoughts on You… for You are our firm line, the anchor that sets us straight. Without worry, without fear; comforted in complete trust.
But I cannot cast stones. I, too, am like this man. I drop my eyes to my feet, look at the uneven ground beneath me, feel it tremble and quake. I keep my head down, but You stare straight to me. Imploring me to keep steady and trust. You protect me, You go before me, You make my sail secure.
How often do I fumble my way through the waves, swallow sting of salt and gargle out, “Lord, save me!”? The only reason I start to sink is because I hold my worry like a buoy when it only bobs me upside down.
Don’t stray your eyes. He is coming in the storm, in the sweep of worry. He is here.
All that eats me up is purely human panic—but all I have to do is pray. Look to You for what You have already done and give thanks, build from there. We operate out of victory. I tend to forget this a lot.
You still the storm in my mind and cast away doubt when I ask. You long to hear from Your children. The peace of God, which goes beyond all knowledge or understanding, will, for certain, guard my heart and mind, marked fixedly in Jesus Christ.
What keeps me from standing straight atop the water in my lack of faith, my disbelief, my flailing worry and what-ifs? Will I not release it to You?
Prayer and petition. That’s what You ask. To let You be God and go to work in the details. I am simply to relax and believe. Get out of the boat and stay locked on You.
Let my heart cry with conviction, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)
***
If it was God in Spirit hovering above the waters in the first breaths of time, how can I not hold to the truth that He knows these depths better than anyone?
We can get anxious so quickly, but He meets us in the middle. As soon as we stretch out hands to Him, He envelopes his around ours, pulls our gaze to His, and asks with no condescension, simply sincerity, “Why did you doubt?” A gentle nudge and reminder not to be anxious or worry, because He is trustworthy. And to bring every little bit of ourselves to Him, believing.
When I plod, He gives me peace. When I hand Him my storm, the uneven cadence of my plod through this flux of fear, He gives me peace.
God doesn’t leave us empty handed. That peace will be my protection, it will guard me against any other worrisome thoughts trying to get in to my head. I will be guarded and filled with immeasurable and inconceivable peace.
Protected. Padded heart, sure mind. Bringing my prayers before Him with iron faith, as not to drip in doubt.
I cast one foot upon the water, bend full weight with the next step. He is there, fixed and full. My anchor, my calm.
All is well above the waves.