Day 16 - Peace in His Presence

Well, good morning and TGIF, happy Friday.

Hopefully the week has gone well for you and that you've got great plans for this weekend.

Uh remember, if you're a lady at Church of the Grow, we'd love to invite you to come and be a part of our Thrive Women's Conference that's happening tonight and tomorrow morning.

Um you can find out more information about that on our church website.

But this morning we're looking at Matthew chapter 14, specifically at verses twenty-two through thirty that say this.

Matthew 14 · chapter mention

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.

After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

Night fell while he was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen and they were fighting heavy waves.

About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came towards 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 towards Jesus.

But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.

Save me, Lord, he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.

You have so little faith, Jesus said.

Why did you doubt me?

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

Then the disciples worshipped him.

You really are the Son of God, they exclaimed.

We have two little boys at home who are six and four.

You heard about our four-year-old Ben, the treasure hunter, yesterday.

If you were to ask our boys what they are afraid of, their list would include spiders, bears, and hot lava.

However, chief among the things that cause them to fear is the dark.

They do whatever they can to avoid the dark.

They have bedside lamps they keep on all night long.

They ask someone to turn on the light before they enter a room.

And they want someone with them when darkness can't be avoided.

Every night at bedtime, we pray for our boys that they would be strong and courageous, because the Lord their God is with them wherever they go, from Joshua 19.

Sam, our oldest, also has a little plush Jesus doll that he got for Easter when he was small, and he sleeps with it every night.

The presence of that doll with him is one of the things that offers him comfort in the middle of the night when he wakes up afraid.

Today, in Matthew chapter 14, we will discover the peace that is found in the presence of Jesus, and the power that comes with viewing our fears with the proper perspective.

Matthew 14 · chapter mention

In verses twenty four through twenty-six, we see Jesus' followers in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, in the middle of the night fighting a raging storm.

They see Jesus coming towards them in the midst of the storm, and they are terrified.

Jesus tells them not to be afraid.

Why?

He says, Don't be afraid, take courage, I am here.

They don't need to be afraid because he is there with them.

The storm is still raging, but he is with his followers in the middle of it.

We don't have to be afraid because Jesus is with us.

His presence brings peace.

It doesn't always change the circumstances that we are in or take away the things that cause us fear, but his presence should change our reaction to the circumstances and fears.

The wind and the waves may still be as ominous, but their power pells in comparison to the one whose word they obey.

When Jesus reveals himself to his disciples as he walks on the water, Peter responds in faith by stepping out of the boat and walking on the water towards Jesus.

But verse 30 tells us that when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.

Save me, Lord, he shouted.

Peter was fine walking on water towards Jesus in the middle of the storm until he took his eyes off Jesus.

I can imagine this scene.

Peter was probably relieved at the sight of the Lord, the sound of his voice above the howling wind, after what seemed like a fight for their lives, working tirelessly to keep their boat from capsizing amid the giant waves that slammed against it.

Perhaps once he saw Jesus there on the water, he wanted to be as close to him as possible.

His fear turned into faith in the presence of the one who had just miraculously fed five thousand people with the little boy's meager lunch?

What went through his mind as he put one foot in front of the other on top of the angry sea?

Elation?

Awe?

Did he shout, Look, Lord, I'm doing it just like you?

Much like a child imitating his older siblings?

What caused him to look away from the eyes that held his gaze as he came towards him?

Was it the wind whipping his wet hair into his eyes or the driving rain that nearly blinded him?

Was it the frightening close lightning strikes or the clap of thunder?

When he saw the wind and thunder, he began to sink.

All of a sudden his perspective shifted from Jesus, the one whose presence offers ultimate peace to the storm, the thing that caused him to fear.

His perspective of the storm's power was disproportionate to the truth of the ultimate power of Jesus over all creation and over the storm he faced.

When his fears became bigger than his Savior, they overwhelmed him.

There is power in the proper perspective.

We don't have to be afraid because Jesus is with us.

His presence brings peace.

We fight fear by keeping our eyes on Jesus and right sizing our fears in comparison to our great God.

After Jesus reaches out to save Peter, he remarks on his doubt.

The Jesus Storybook Bible says it this way Did you forget who I am?

Did you believe your fears instead of me?

Jesus' friends had been so afraid they had only seen the big waves.

They had forgotten that if Jesus was with them, then they had nothing to be afraid of, no matter how small their boat or how big the storm.

Call out to Him to save you just as Peter did.

Set aside some time today to spend in the presence of Jesus, focusing on shifting your perspective from the things that cause you fear to the person and power of Jesus.

Maybe go on a walk and spend time in worship and prayer.

Acknowledge your fears to him, and then spend some time thanking him out loud for the truth that you know about who he is and how capable he is of seeing you safely through each of those things that frighten you.

Practice the instructions of Philippians chapter 4, verses 6 through 7, which tell us, Don't worry about anything.

Philippians 4:6–7

Instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need and thank him for all that he has done.

Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds everything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And so this morning we pray, dear Lord, you are so faithful.

Thank you for being present with me.

No matter how dark the night or how big the storm, I know you are much greater than anything I fear.

Help me to take my eyes off of the storm around me and focus my gaze on you alone.

When I am afraid, help me to put my trust in you.

Thank you for the peace that is mine because of your presence with me and because of your power over all that threatens me.

I love you, Jesus.

Amen.

Thank you so much for joining us this morning.

And again, we would encourage you to read through Matthew chapter 14 on your own time.

Matthew 14 · chapter mention

And we'll see you back tomorrow for Saturday's devotion, and then see you at church on Sunday.

Love you guys.