Sep 28 2008
He is Waiting in the Midst of the Storm
by Max Lucado
Peter knows he is in trouble.
The winds roar down onto the Sea of Galilee like a hawk on a rat. Lightning zigzags across the black sky. The clouds vibrate with thunder. The rain taps, then pops, then slaps against the deck of the boat until everyone aboard is soaked and shaking. Ten-foot waves pick them up and slam them down again with bonejarring force.
These drenched men don’t look like a team of apostles who are only a decade away from changing the world. And you can be sure of one thing. The one with the widest eyes is the one with the biggest biceps—Peter. He’s seen these storms before. He’s seen the wreckage and bloated bodies float to shore. He knows what the fury of wind and wave can do. And he knows that times like this are not times to make a name for yourself; they’re times to get some help.
That is why, when he sees Jesus walking on the water toward the boat, he is the first to say, “Lord, if it’s you … tell me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14:28)
He is aware of two facts: He’s going down, and Jesus is staying up. And it doesn’t take him too long to decide where he would rather be.
Perhaps a better interpretation of his request would be, “Jeeeeeeeesus. If that is you, then get me out of here!”
“Come on” is the invitation.
And Peter doesn’t have to be told twice. It’s not every day that you walk on water through waves that are taller than you are. But when faced with the alternative of sure death or possible life, Peter knows which one he wants.
The first few steps go well. But a few strides out onto the water, and he forgets to look to the One who got him there in the first place, and down he plunges.
Peter’s response may lack class—it probably wouldn’t get him on the cover of Gentleman’s Quarterly or even Sports Illustrated—but it gets him out of some deep water:
“Help me!”
And since Peter would rather swallow pride than water, a hand comes through the rain and pulls him up.
The message is clear.
As long as Jesus is one of many options, he is no option. As long as you can carry your burdens alone, you don’t need a burden bearer. As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. And as long as you can take him or leave him, you might as well leave him, because he won’t be taken half-heartedly.
But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on him, and when there is truly no other name that you can call, then cast all your cares on him, for he is waiting in the midst of the storm.
This is so true, I have been going through things left and right all I can do is look to the lord for salvation, and when I feel there is nothing else that I can do I call on him for help. He is there, he creates a way for me to make it through, but without all the trials and tribulations I would have no reason to call on to him. He knows as well as I do without trouble there is no need for help. I am one who can say that I truly love the lord and am not afraid of any problems for he has a path for me and no matter what he will see me through till the end. At times I am impatient and this is something that I know, but through him I find the strength to sit back and let faith bring me through. This is a very special message that I hope can touch the hearts of all. God bless
FOR A YEAR OR TWO AFTER MY 48 YEAR OLD HUSBAND DIED OF CANCER I STRUGGLED WITH HIS 2 LAST WORDS.
MY HUSBAND HAD A DEEP STRONG CATHOLIC FAITH AND EMBRACED HIS CANCER COURAGEOUSLY……BUT AT THE VERY END WHEN HE WAS DYING HE SHOUTED OUT, HELP ME! HELP ME!
I KNOW THAT WAS THE TIME THE LORD WAS CALLING HIM HOME AND JUST AT THE VERY END HE HAD A BIT OF DOUBT AND SHOUTED THOSE WORDS…HELP ME! HELP ME! JUST LIKE PETER LET DOUBT CREEP IN.
IT HAS BEEN OVER 10 YEARS NOW SINCE MY HUSBAND LEFT THIS WORLD ON EARTH, BUT I ENJOYED REVIEWING THAT EVEN THE STRONGEST FAITH PEOPLE STILL HAVE DOUBTS.
Science works so hard to eliminate suffering, yet it is during our lowest times, when suffering the most, that we turn to God and feel His closeness.
“God’s will never takes us where His grace cannot protect us”…but we have to be humble enough to surrender to His will and ask for His help.
Oh the TESTIMONIES I could tell about this one. It took me a while but I have finally learned how to take my burdens to the LORD and leave them there. FAITH is a POWERFUL 5 letter word. I pray God will BLESS all who read these messages.
I’m going through my own trial & tribulations, but as importat as it may seem to me, God always shows me someone who’d rather handle my issues then the issues of their own.
It’s hard for me because as much as I love God and thank him for all he has done for me, As a human I find myself still doubting. - What I mean is with all the burdens I’ve been carrying, I find that I don’t leave it up to him; I worry & concern myself with these issues when I know God will see me through.
To listen to others testimonies; it is a refreshing Enlightenment of the power of God and the will that he enforces, I thank all of you for sharing, because this has just helped one more person understand God!
Thanks