WATCHWORD:
22 Immediately after this, Jesus told his disciples to get into their boat and cross to the other side of the lake while he stayed to get the people started home. 23-24 Then afterwards he went up into the hills to pray. Night fell, and out on the lake the disciples were in trouble. For the wind had risen and they were fighting heavy seas. 25 About four o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water! 26 They screamed in terror, for they thought he was a ghost. 27 But Jesus immediately spoke to them, reassuring them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. 28 Then Peter called to him: “Sir, if it is really you, tell me to come over to you, walking on the water.”
29 “All right,” the Lord said, “come along!”
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and rescued him. “O man of little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” Matthew 14:22-31
Meditation:
Save Me, Lord!
When stuck against a mountain of trouble, or perhaps in a storm of our own, and we don’t know where to turn, how do we respond? Peter chose to cry out, “Save me, Lord”, in a panic. How about you? The wind was a gale force and the waves were high, but Peter didn’t see them because He had his eye on Jesus. Oh, but then, the wind made itself known and he saw the waves, and he was afraid.
There are any number of things in our lives that might cause us to be afraid, or worry, or perhaps you’ve said something that offended some people, people that you really like and respect, and it hits you like it gut punch. What to do, how to respond? What goes through your mind?
The key is not how we look during trials and worries, it is how we respond to them. That is, how do we react when things don’t go our way? How do we respond when we’re facing trials of all kinds, of disappointments and set-backs? That is the test.
There is a tendency in the part of us human beings to internalize those problems, put on a good show. But, we, believers in Christ, must learn how to respond in a fashion that keeps us trusting the Lord, while at the same time bearing witness to God’s peace and love. Those who know us are watching to see how we will respond, and they should be able to learn the source of our strength.
Charles Stanley makes this statement in response to those times when the bottom is dropping out of our plans and lives, and we don’t know what to do. He says:
“We must find our position of security in Him, our Lord and Savior. We must reaffirm three things: First, we are chosen in Christ Jesus. Secondly, we are born again. Finally, we are protected by the power of God. We aren’t secure on the basis of our performance, or our conduct, or our behavior. We aren’t secure on the basis of how we respond to trials and difficulties. We are secure in the person of Christ Jesus — on the basis of his sacrificial, all-sufficient death at Calvary. The moment we received Him, having chosen by Him, a new birth experience took place in our lives, and God assumed the responsibility of protecting us.”
That is simply what has happened in that transformational decision we made for Jesus the Christ. When we are Peter, adrift on the waves of our own life difficulties, Help me Jesus! is our rightful call. It is not giving in to fear, it is the belief that our Lord is right here, ready to receive what is causing our stress. That is when our trust and our belief and our reliance on our Lord, is a proven, certain thing. God is holding onto us. Amen.
Jesus Help Me:
In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust, saying,
Jesus, help me!
In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations,
Jesus, help me!
In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials,
Jesus, help me!
In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles and sorrows,
Jesus, help me!
When my heart is cast down by failure, at seeing no good come from my efforts,
Jesus, help me!
When others fail me, and Thy grace alone can assist me,
Jesus, help me!
When I throw myself on Thy tender love as Father and Savior,
Jesus, help me!
When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me,
Jesus, help me!
When sickness and loneliness overcome me,
Jesus, help me!
Always, in weakness, falls and shortcomings of every kind,
Jesus, help me and never forsake me.
Thank You, dear Lord Jesus.
Amen.
