WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES OVERTAKE US
The thing about having faith in the fire, is that there are a million pain points associated with it. There is no cookie cutter experience, response, or deliverance. Each furnace is of a unique design and the flames of each one serve a different purpose.
Regardless of the fiery experience, endurance will sometimes wane. Our focus can shift from one of “eyes on God clinging to faith” to “overwhelmed by circumstances that want to choke hope out”.
Fortunately, God gave us a beautiful example of His response when we fall under the weight of our fires–or in this case, storms.
PETER WALKED:PETER FELL
Peter and the disciples were in the middle of a fiery trial (storm threatening to over take them)
“Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
“Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.”, Matthew 14:24-30, NLT
Peter had the courage and boldness to step out in faith at the beckoning of Jesus. He did what everyone else thought impossible–he walked on the water. I shared how he was able to do that in yesterday’s post, Boldness Comes When We Keep Our Eyes on Jesus.
As soon as Jesus was no longer Peter’s focus, “he saw the strong wind and the waves and was terrified”, fear replaced faith.
Tweet ThisJESUS HELPS US AS WE FALL
I had a breast cancer scare last year. I was ready and prepared to walk what ever path I found myself in in faith. I spent months with my eyes on Jesus as we were making plans, talking options, and scheduling surgeries.
When I say I was fine–I was “walking on water” fine! I immediately became “unfine” when the time to wait came. I had 10 days to wait for pathology reports that could very well change my life or possibly take it. My eyes came off of God. The only thing I could think about was “what would the reports say?” The only think I could do was weep–and did I weep! My poor husband had no idea what to do with me. I had never been that way before. I KNEW God was with me, but I couldn’t SEE Him because I wouldn’t take my eyes off of the pending reports.
Just like Peter, I fell. From how I view this passage, he cried out for help right away. I didn’t cry out to God for help in my circumstances. I cried out to Him for there to me no bad news in the report. If I had cried out to Him in my immediate angst–the wait–I’m sure He would have met me. I could only think of the end result, not what I needed rescue from in that specific moment.
Peter, on the other hand, did not ask God to cal the wind and storms. He yelled out, “Lord HELP!”, and Jesus responded.
“Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”, Matthew 14:31, NLT
He will do the same for us too. Our fires may not be quenched right away, or even at all. We can, however, count on a God who will not let us stay crushed in our circumstances.
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, NLT
This is day 6 of the #write31days challenge where I will be writing a new post each day about having ‘FAITH in the FIRE’. If you don’t want to miss out on any of this series, click here and join my email mailing list. The posts will be delivered into your in-box.
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God never leaves us or forsakes us!