So many times I find myself focusing on the situations around me, the things that are daily trying to tear me down. Things that honestly I do not have a whole lot of control over. When the storms in my life are raging, my focus often gets pulled off of Jesus. Yet, the Bible says to set your mind on things above. For the longest time, I have often wondered what that looks like.
Recently reading through Matthew 14, I gained a clearer picture of what setting your mind on things above might look like. In chapter 14 after feeding the five thousand, Jesus sends his disciples in a boat ahead of him. Later, Jesus walks out on the water to meet them. When the disciples see him, they all believe him to be a ghost. Yet, Jesus says to them “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Peter responds by asking Jesus to command him to walk out on the water to meet Jesus. So, Jesus calls Peter out of the boat and on to the water. Peter walks on the water to Jesus, but at one point Peter takes his focus off of Jesus, and focuses on the wind and the waves surrounding him. Afraid, Peter begins to sink among the raging wind and waves, he cries out “Lord save me.”. The Bible says immediately Jesus reached out his hand and took hold of Peter saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”.
When Peter steps out of that boat and on to the crashing waves his only focus is Jesus. But somewhere along the way, Peter’s focus shifts from Jesus and on to the situation around him. When Peter loses sight of Jesus, he becomes afraid of his situation and begins to sink. Many times in my situations, I have taken my focus off of things above, and have become consumed by the things surrounding me.
Oh Lord, how many times have I been walking through a dark storm in my life and doubted you? Doubted that you would reach down and rescue me? Doubted that you were there with me? In the midst of my darkest storms, I so often lose sight of you Jesus, and I fear my situations. Then, Just like Peter I begin to sink under the burdens. I cry out for you to save me, and each time you reach out for me over and over again.
Before He formed the foundations of the earth, God knew. He knew that I would struggle with sin. He knew that myself and many others like me, would run back to our sins over and over again. He knew, still He let me run back to my sinfulness time and time again. But God, stepped down into my sinfulness, into our dark and broken world. Living the life I couldn’t, He who knew no sin, took on my sin to pay a price I could never pay. Then, on that third day He rose victorious over death, over my sin, over all sin. Not because He found me worthy, not because I deserved it, but simply because He loves me. Because he loves me so deeply, when I find myself sinking again in my sinfulness, He rescues me over and over and over again.
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