When we’re really young we don’t get many choices. It’s brush your teeth, get dressed, finish your milk, go to school, come straight home, do your chores, finish your homework, take your bath, turn off the TV, and turn out the lights. When we get to the point of making some decisions of our own, we know everything…right? Youth and inexperience never make a mistake, never miscalculate, always sees the clear choice, always exercise caution and control and follow the rules…right? Life is fraught with peril and indecision. Life is like living in deep water. There are rip-tides, sharp coral reefs beneath the surface, killer waves, great white sharks, electric eels, paralyzing jellyfish, and the occasional fish that swallows a prophet. However, Jesus gives us all we need to navigate treacherous waters. From the Sermon on the Mount, to his prayer at Gethsemane; he taught us to swim and not give up. He helped one to even walk on water. Now that we know better, we can do better. Right? Get noticed: swim against popular opinion, swim to help someone in need—reach out, some are drowning. Jesus gave us all we need to navigate the treacherous waters of life.
II Corinthians 1:4 gently consoles us, “God comforts us in all our troubles so that…we… can comfort those in trouble.”
Remember Michael Phelps, the Olympic Gold Medal winner, who won more gold medals than any other swimmer in history? At seven years old he didn’t even like getting his face wet. We all get scared at times, but we can overcome our fears. We might not walk on water like Peter, but we do walk through tough situations. And if we focus on the waves of difficult circumstances around us, without looking to Jesus for help, we too, may despair and sink. We need to do what Peter should have done—keep our eyes on the Savoir. When our faith fails, as Peter’s faltered, we need to reach out to Christ, the only one who can help. Peter was afraid, but he still looked to Christ. When you are apprehensive about the troubles around you and doubt Christ’s presence, or his ability to help, you must remember what the Psalmist stated;
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar…” Psalms 36:1
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