Don’t Think Now, Take the Road

“And Peter …walked on the water to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid.
Matthew 14:29-30

          The wind was boisterous, the waves were actually high, but Peter did not see them at first.  He did not reckon with them, he simply recognized his Lord and stepped out in recognition of Him, and walked on the water.  Then he began to reckon with the actual things, and down he went instantly.  Why could not our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves as well as on the top of them?  Neither could be done saving by recognition of the Lord Jesus.

          We step right out on God over some things, then self-consideration enters in and down we go.  If you are recognizing your Lord, you have no business with where He engineers your circumstances.  The actual things are, but immediately you look at them you are overwhelmed, you cannot recognize Jesus, and the rebuke comes: “Wherefore didst thou doubt?”  Let actual circumstances be what they may, keep recognizing Jesus, maintain complete reliance on Him.

          If you debate for a second when God has spoken, it is all up.  Never begin to say – “Well, I wonder if He did speak?”  Be reckless immediately, fling it all out on Him. You do not know when His voice will come, but whenever the realization of God comes in the faintest way imaginable, recklessly abandon.  You will only realize His voice more clearly by recklessness.

From: My Utmost for His Highest

As I read this devotional today, I realized how much I needed an intimate touch from the Lord.  Did that ever happen to you?  You think things are ok; the car starts, the fridge is stocked, the bible study went well, hey - you even made it to church twice this week.  But, is that all?  Where's the depth of our relationship with Jesus? 

Like most people, moments of desperation lead to a bending of the knees (whether figuratively or physically) that has been lacking for a while...this morning was one of those times.  Gustavo is off again; "he's leaving on a jet plane, ..." (lyrics adjusted)  Maybe you're too young to remember that song; he's leaving - seems that's what he does - and he won't be back the same.  Bible College returned a young man that loves God and will do WHATEVER He asks of him.  Good?  Of course!  Price?  Indeed!  Worth it?  You guessed it - yes! 

But...what about the heart that is not trusting enough, not peaceful, that longs for simpler times of reading to the little boy late at night?  Well, that heart better get its eyes back on Jesus.  And that's what Oswald Chambers did for me this morning.

Like Peter, I have been looking at this date (my storm) with dread.  Why?  I left that door open, the one that leads to doubt, and in it came...I should say they!  All the "what if's".  They are legitimate because they are mine, but they have no business within the heart that is set on the Lord's will.  And so off I go to walk on water.  To put my complete trust in God and His plans for my dear son.  Off I go as I live through Gustavo in those far away places I've heard of and admired in pictures.  And He will be there with my son.  I can trust him to share those moments through Skype, email, and Facebook; and I can trust Him to be by his side through it all and bring back a man that has walked closely with Jesus.  

So when I fear the future and what it will bring, I must remember that all that Luis and I did was to prepare him for this moment.  To walk far and long, for and with, Jesus.  To fly far away from the nest and land at His feet safe and sound!