Bible Text: Hebrews 12:2 | Speaker: Darlene Sala | Series: Encouraging Words | I’m so glad Jesus chose Peter to be one of His disciples, because he’s like us–curious, impetuous, but sometimes weak.
One of the best known scenes from Peter’s life happened when the disciples were in a boat, and Jesus came walking on the water. They thought he was a ghost, but Jesus immediately said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:27, 28). Don’t you love Peter’s audacity! Jesus said, “Come,” so Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. Of course, we all remember that when he saw the storm, he began to sink. But immediately Jesus reached out and caught him.
As long as Peter’s eyes were on Jesus, he could walk on water. But when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the circumstances, he began to sink.
When you focus your attention on how many bills you have to pay or the doctor’s diagnosis of leukemia or the layoff notice you just received at work, like Peter, you’ll begin to sink, for where you focus your attention makes all the difference in how you cope. If you look at your circumstances, you’ll become discouraged. If you look in your own heart, you’ll become depressed. If you look back, you’ll be defeated by past failures. If you look to others, you may be disappointed. But if you look to Christ, you will never be discouraged or depressed or defeated or disappointed.
When a bumblebee drops into a glass, it will be there until it dies because a bumblebee never sees the opening at the top. He’s too busy struggling to find some way out near the bottom. The answer for the bumblebee—and for us–is to look up.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,” says scripture (Hebrews 12:2). Will you look to Him right now?
