“23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We're going to drown!’ 26He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’” Matthew 8: 23-27 NIV
Have you ever been to the circus? One performer in particular has recently caught a great deal of my attention—the tightrope walker. When I began my research on tightrope walkers, I was quite impressed. For tightrope walkers always continue forward while placing their balance on one of the weakest parts of the body—the ankles. Since they walk the rope with in line steps, their balance is shifted and placed upon the ankles. This is one of the reasons why they choose to use poles or place their arms out to their side. By doing so, they allow a portion of the balance to be shifted from the ankles and placed into the weight of the pole or their arms. Seasoned tightrope walkers always continue forward never taking their eyes off of their destination because if they linger to long in one place or look down they can loose their balance which ultimately causes them to fall.
Many of us walk tightropes in life. We do so much to balance being leaders, mothers, fathers, spouses, professionals, siblings, etc. that it becomes really easy to start placing trust in the wrong places and putting our strength in the weakest part. In balancing all that we do, it can become very easy to start trusting in our abilities, people, or even in the world’s system; all of which are weak. These things and people can only carry us so far. By trusting in all these other things, we can allow them to become distractions that take away from our fellowship, growth, and dependency in Christ.
When Jesus and the disciplines entered the ship to set sail on the sea of Tiberias, which was known for great storms, their focus was quite different. Off they sail, along with other boats, and Jesus goes of by himself to rest. While sleeping peacefully, a storm begins to rage all around them, knocking the boat to and fro, tossing water into the boat, causing great fear in the disciples and yet Christ still slept. His sleep was not a fretful one but rather one of great peace. The disciples, like us at times, was more focused on the great storm around them than keeping their eyes on who was with them. Just like the tightrope walker stumbles and falls when his/her eyes are taken off the destination, the disciplines became weak, gave into fear, and lost sight of the one who truly is the great protector.
Christ was able to sleep so peacefully in that boat because He knew more than anyone that His father was with Him. He was giving an example to them and us that even though storms and difficulties come, we can be at peace in, not ourselves, but the loving Father who is always with us. Even though the disciples focused more on the storm and took their eyes off of who was with them, they did know enough to run to Him. There they stood, shaking in fear, saying “We perish”. They understood that only Christ would be able to get them through the storm. We can learn from these disciples not to be so concerned about the storm that we forget that Christ is with us, but if we do, it is never too late to run to Him.
Prayer
My Lord and Savior, I am in awe of how much you truly love me in spite of all my flaws, my weaknesses, and my sins. I am thankful that even when the storms of life come, you are there to be my peace, my clarity, my protector. Help me to always be reminded that I do not have to fight the storm nor am I in the storm alone, but you are always with me. Forgive me for the times that I have tried to handle things in my own strength and in my own knowledge instead of seeking you. I pray that I may always have my eyes stayed on you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Suggested Weekly Reading
Monday Matthew 8: 23-27
Tuesday Luke 8: 23-25
Wednesday Psalm 65: 7
Thursday Mark 4: 36-41
Friday Matthew 6: 30
Saturday Matthew 17: 20
Sunday Psalm 89: 9
Application
Keep your eyes on Christ and not the storms of life.
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