Gaze Amidst Waves
Have you ever had one of those times when it feels like life is in a box, and someone just decided to shake it? That’s what my days have looked and felt like this past week and a half.
It’s crazy to me how at some points you can feel the peace that surpasses all understanding and guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and yet in another instance feel like the disciples on the Sea of Galilea with a storm raging all around them, looking to Jesus napping on the stern waking him up to cry out, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?!” Or when Peter on the same sea was walking on water towards Jesus and started to fall beneath the waves once he takes his eyes off of His Lord and Savior crying out: “Lord, save me.” I resonate with these stories.
I resonate with having the belief to step out in faith, with the inevitable nature of stumbling along the Way. I resonate with slipping beneath the waves because I’ve taken my gaze off of Jesus to look at the present weathering storm around me. I find hope in the fact that Jesus will calm the raging seas around me, while also knowing that He will lovingly calling me out for doubting His strength and provision amidst the storm plaguing me. We can have faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord yet STILL go through all the things. That is normal and the nature of our following the Way.
But that’s the thing we need to come to terms with: God is in control whether we feel stable in our personal sense of it. We can’t miss the whole point in this—it’s the very foundations of following the Lord in His Way. We were NEVER meant to be in control in the first place—nor are we supposed to find comfort in a false-sense of it.
The reality is, we’re supposed to look at our storm and respond in such a way that reflects and gives glory to God. We are called to respond to it—not by cowering in fear before it, or even by attempting to use our measly human efforts in an attempt to subdue it. We are called to call upon the name of the Lord and to speak Peace into whatever surrounds us. We are called to have the faith of a mustard seed and to pray in the belief that when we tell the mountain to move, it WILL move.
Maybe that’s why God said we are to look to and fix our eyes on what is unseen. Because the unseen has the power to tell the crashing waves to be still in an instance.
And don’t get me wrong, it may seem silly, it may not be easy; it may seem completely and totally incomprehensible and beyond any and all logical understanding. But you know what also is crazy and yet still true? Someone rising from the dead on the third day. And if that can happen (because it did), it’s time we start believing and trusting in the other things Scripture talks about, and Jesus taught on, too.
I’m in a season where God has been challenging different areas that I have unbelief. I often will cry out as the father did in Mark 9:23-25.
And so, I will leave you with a challenge too: What is the anchor of your soul? What keeps you grounded when it seems are though everything around you (whether it be physically, mentally, emotional, relationally, or spiritually) is raging around you? How do you stay afloat when things are chaotic and relentless before you? Is it your discipline, your understanding, your efforts, your income, your sense of purpose, your prestige, your degree, your resume, your personality, your desires, your looks, or something you feel that defines you? Or is it the One who can command everything to stillness in an instance all the while loving calling out your pride, fear, and stubbornness?
The moment our gaze starts to drift from our Lord and Savior that we begin to see the turmoil and craziness around us that we begin to sink beneath the waves. So, take heart. Even when we start to sink beneath the waves, Jesus is not going to let you drown after having had the courage to step out in faith. He might discipline you for not keeping your eyes on the Him, but He’s not going to let you fall into the deep before it’s your time to go.
Remember to keep walking above the waves with your gaze fixed on the maker of the Heavens and the Earth. And even if the mountains and the earth give way-- remember to keep journey along the Way.
Take heart. And remember to have courage while you take heart.
Peace ‘n blessings, friends.
With love,
Jaclyn
Scripture References & Inspiration:
Philippians 4
Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 14:22-33
Matthew 17:14-20
Mark 4:35-41
Mark 9:14-29
Romans 5
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
