Feeling the Wind is One Thing
How could you not feel it! The gale is so strong – it seems to be hurricane force. It’s taking every ounce of energy you have to keep on walking. In fact, it seems the sheer velocity of the wind is pushing you backwards as you try to step forward! It is exhausting.
What’s happening? Why are you feeling this way? Has the storm been a long one? Some storms are quick and violent. Others are slow and drawn out. Some are intense and hit hard. Others come and seem to grow in intensity as time wears on. Today you are feeling the wind. You are experiencing the storm.
It is one thing to be feeling the wind but to be looking at the wind is something different. It’s a blinding blizzard and you are trying to walk home. Off in the distance you can faintly see one light shining. You recognize that light. It’s been over your porch door for years. As the wind violently slams against your body, you lean forward and with every ounce of energy you push ahead. You’re almost afraid to blink; you don’t want to lose that light.
Peter was in the boat. The wind was pounding against the little boat and they were making very little progress. Every muscle was straining to stay on course and to inch forward. They should have been at the other side hours ago. But now it was after 3AM and they were still out there – being tossed around in the waves as if the sea had become a boiling cauldron.
Just then, Jesus appeared walking on the water. They were terrified. The storm was bad enough but now a ghost?!! Jesus said: “Don’t be scared. It is I.” Peter said: “If it’s really You Lord, tell me to come to You on the water.”
Jesus said, “Come.”
So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid,
and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him,
saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
(Mathew 14:29-33)
Peter had been feeling the wind all night but as he walked towards Jesus, he started ‘looking’ at the wind. He saw the white caps. He saw the deep trenches between the waves. He saw the boat being battered in the waves. He saw his garments blowing in the wind. He saw. He saw.
Peter was an awesome water-walker when he was looking at Christ. It wasn’t until he started ‘seeing’ the wind and started looking at its effects that he began to sink down.
Feeling the wind in the darkness of the night is one thing. Looking at it is another. It is when we start looking away from the Light to see and study the wind that we quickly begin to sink.
What are you seeing today in your storm? What are you looking at?
When Stephen was being stoned he “looked up steadfastly into Heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55
Abraham, despite all the delays, kept looking “for a city which had foundations whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:10.
The writer to the Hebrews wrote: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2
Paul wrote: “Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13.
Feeling the wind is one thing dear child of God, but the critical thing is: where are you looking?
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay