Pain to Purpose Devotional - DAY 34
Week 5: Jesus
SCRIPTURE:
Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
2 Corinthians 4:18
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
DEVO:
Immediately after the great miracle of feeding the five thousand, Jesus sends his disciples ahead of Him in a boat across the Sea of Galilee where they are instructed to meet Him on the other side. Meanwhile, He goes to the top of a mountainside to spend time with the Father, in order to deal with the grief He had not yet been able to attend to. While the disciples were out on the sea, scripture tells us a great squall emerges and pushes them out into the middle of the lake.
If you’ve never been to the Sea of Galilee, it can be very easy to assume this lake is only a bit bigger than a simple neighborhood retaining pond, not nearly as big as a recreational boating lake. However, the Sea of Galilee is such an enormous body of water that it’s only on clear days that you can see to the other side of it. This is why it’s typically referred to as the Sea of Galilee. Ancient fishermen would make it a point to never cross over the middle of the lake for fear they would get stuck in a storm. Many a boat had capsized and countless fishermen had lost their lives trying to navigate the dicey waters from the middle of the lake. Instead of attempting a direct route across, the fishermen would hop from port to port around the edge of the lake making sure to stay close enough to land so that should bad weather arise, they would easily be able to access safety and shelter.
Unfortunately for the disciples, even though they had experienced fishermen on board, port-hopping became impossible for them. The location from which they departed sat at the opening of a valley called the Valley of Doves. During early spring, this valley can create a wind tunnel that acts similarly to taking a straw and blowing across a bowl of water. The wind effectively pushed them out into the middle of the lake where they were sitting ducks, all but ensuring they would join countless fishermen in their ultimate demise. Sometimes, despite our best efforts and experience, life pushes us out into the storm and we are unable to resist.
Scripture tells us that Jesus comes to them in the Fourth Watch of the night, walking on water. The Fourth Watch of the night was the last slot of a Roman four-part rhythm of keeping guard. It was the last watch, between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m -- when the night was darkest. Imagine the scene: the disciples have found themselves in the middle of a ferocious storm during the darkest hour of the night, in what seems like a completely hopeless situation -- one that is sure to lead to their impending doom. This is the moment, and not a minute before, that Jesus decides to come and rescue them.
Doesn't it always seem to be the moments that life feels the darkest, when there appears to be no hope, when we have exhausted all of our own skills, and have finally come to the end of our sufficiency that God shows up in just the nick of time? And often, when Jesus finally does show up, we are so absorbed by the surrounding circumstances and our own trepidation, that we don't even recognize Him. Or perhaps because He shows up in a different form or way than we originally anticipated, we completely miss him in the midst of the storm. One disciple however, Peter, had enough intuition to suspect that this may be Jesus answering their cries for help. So he calls out to this ghostly figure mounted on the lake and says, “If it's you Lord, ask me to come out on the water (Matthew 14:28)!”
Jesus in turn invites Peter to join him. Without thinking, as the impetuous Peter often acted, he steps out of the boat and miraculously begins walking on top of the water to Jesus. In this situation, unlike another we see in Jesus’ ministry, Jesus chose not to calm the storm immediately. Instead, He chose to show His disciples that He is The Calm in the midst of the storm.
Christian tradition has labeled the miracle in this passage as “Jesus walks on the water.” Now, that is a miraculous feat, however, I can't help but think that the real miracle is that Peter was able to take a few steps on top of the sweltering waters. This proves to us that in the midst of our greatest storms, God's power can flow through us in a mighty, miracle-working, outside-of-our-own-ability sort of way. The key is whether we choose to focus on the right things.
Peter's faith-filled steps were short-lived. Scripture goes on to tell us that when he began to notice the wind and the waves surrounding him, he took his eyes off of Jesus. At that moment when his focus shifted, so did his footing, and Peter began to sink. The lesson here is simple. What we choose to focus on during our storm determines how we will function in our storm. The people that get weighed down and worried by the wind and the waves are the folks who choose to focus on the wind and the waves. Negativity about our circumstances, cynicism, bitterness, and spite all contribute to paralyzing and fearful thinking that will leave us gasping for breath as waves pile up over us. However, those who are able to rise above their circumstances and stride on top of the water are the ones who have decided that no matter what their situation may be, they will focus their attention on their Savior.
Today, are you going to let fear of your circumstances take you under or will you ride on top of them in faith? Like Peter, you get to choose. Take a step out of the boat. Keep your eyes on Jesus. And you too will see His power flow through you like never before.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND JOURNALING:
When life’s storms come around you, what do you find yourself focusing on? Do you tend to focus on the negatives of your situation, or do you look for Jesus’ work in the midst of it?
What is a storm you’re currently encountering? What would it mean practically for you to keep your eyes on Jesus?
Take some time to journal. Write out every positive thing that you can see about your situation.
PRAYER:
Lord, when I feel overwhelmed or in the middle of a storm, it’s so difficult to keep my focus on you. I tend to worry, fret, and concern myself with things that seem over my head. I know that you may not calm my storms but you are the calm in the midst of my storms that I can focus on. Help me to keep my eyes on you and your truth as it guides me. Give me the courage to face my storm head-on, rise above it, and stride out on it.
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