Are You Walking on the Water or Are You Sinking?

This morning after having my quiet time of coffee, reading, praise, prayer, and meditation, I began to gear up for my day ahead. I was thinking about my priorities and our financial strain. Within minutes, my mind and heart were sinking – FAST! I broke down in sobs to my husband and spouted off my inner thoughts and fears. The tears and words flowed like a running faucet. The more I spoke, the more I spewed.

My husband and I have participated in many bible studies. One of our favorite is Men Are Like Waffles--Women Are Like Spaghetti. Men and women are so different. Women just want to spew, talk, vent, share, and ....well, talk some more. Men have their different “boxes” they sit in for a while. Yes, they even have a "nothing" box! Another favorite couple's Bible study is Love and Respect. When I started talking, my husband immediately went into defense and “fix-it” mode because that is how men think – they need to “fix” what appears to be broken. I recognized immediately that he was in his “provider/work” box and was feeling inadequate as a provider. I told him that I didn’t need him to “fix’ anything and that my talking was not about his ability to take care of us. It was about my need to "talk" and "cry." Remembering what he has learned through our bible studies together, he settled back to just be an open ear and heart. Trust me ladies, this is very hard for our husbands (if you are not married your male “listeners") to do.

After several minutes I stopped talking and crying and just stood up to go about my business. My husband meandered near me and with a loving look on his face, simply put his arms around me and held me for a moment. He was being the arms of Jesus at that moment. He was showing me the love of the Father. Men, please know that your quiet embrace can make so much difference to your woman!

As I was forging along in my tasks at hand, I began to confess my worry, fretting, and upset to God. I told Him that I had no right or reason to get frustrated, mad, fearful or sad. As I hustled along looking for something I needed for a project I was working on, I asked Him to help me locate it. Within moments He did. Immediately after finding what I needed, He spoke into my mind these words, “Laura, you took your eyes off of me and put them on the things around you. Think of the analogy of walking on the water with me. When you take your eyes off of me, you will sink with worry, fear, anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed, anger, hurt, and every other emotion that is contrary to my peace. Stay fixed on me and live in peace. I will always take care of you!”

In Matthew 14: 22-33 we see that Jesus wanted the disciples to go to the other side in the boat. As they did, there was a very bad storm. In verse 24, it says that the boat was being “battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.” Then they looked and saw a figure walking on the water and they were terrified. In verse 27 we see that “immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter asked for Jesus to command him to come to Him on the water. When Jesus said come, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. We see in verse 30 that Peter, “seeing the wind, became frightened and as he was sinking cried out, “Lord, save me!” The scripture says that “immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

I immediately agreed with Jesus and confessed my doubt to Him. Then I asked Him to help me stay focused on Him, praising Him for all that He does every minute of every day. Praise stalls the enemy’s attempts to distract and harm us. Praise releases the power and resources of our Heavenly Father.

Is there something you are struggling with today that has you overwhelmed and feeling anxious? Stop and praise Jesus. He will grab onto you and pull you up to the safety of His presence. Choose to walk on the water without fear and worry.