After the long, solemn journey of Lent, Palm Sunday is a welcome respite. Although Lent is not officially over until Maunday Thursday (the day before Good Friday), Palm Sunday is a time of celebration. It mirrors the gravity of Good Friday and the celebration of Easter.
Last week I was contemplating the storms that God sends us into sometimes. Although not every storm is God's will - sometimes we create our own storms of disobedience and sin - God sometimes proves he is the Protector by sending into situations we need protection from. So as we begin to get excited for the triumphant, yet humble, entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we can rest assured that ultimately Jesus will do anything for us, even save us from storms of our own making. We often read the account of Peter walking on water and Jesus calming the storm as a lesson about keeping our eyes on Jesus. Remember, however, that Peter had enough faith to step out of the boat into the storm. When he begins to sink and Jesus catches him and says, "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?"
We often read that as Jesus chastising Peter (I know I've used it as an insult!), but Jesus wasn't referring to the quantity or quality of Peter's faith - Peter got out of the boat while the rest of the disciples stayed in the boat and watched! - he was referring to the duration of Peter's faith. Sometimes we're out there walking on water in the midst of our storm, can't see Jesus face because of the wind and the rain, but we can hear His voice, and we simply...stop. We relying on God as our strength and protection and so we get swept up by the waves.
I want to encourage you today to carry on in the strength, wisdom, and love of God, because He will love you when you're walking on water and He will love you when you're sinking. Sinking in the unforgiveness. Sinking in the bitterness. In the doubt and uncertainty. Don't give up God in the midst of your storm. Walk on!
Last week I was contemplating the storms that God sends us into sometimes. Although not every storm is God's will - sometimes we create our own storms of disobedience and sin - God sometimes proves he is the Protector by sending into situations we need protection from. So as we begin to get excited for the triumphant, yet humble, entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we can rest assured that ultimately Jesus will do anything for us, even save us from storms of our own making. We often read the account of Peter walking on water and Jesus calming the storm as a lesson about keeping our eyes on Jesus. Remember, however, that Peter had enough faith to step out of the boat into the storm. When he begins to sink and Jesus catches him and says, "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?"
We often read that as Jesus chastising Peter (I know I've used it as an insult!), but Jesus wasn't referring to the quantity or quality of Peter's faith - Peter got out of the boat while the rest of the disciples stayed in the boat and watched! - he was referring to the duration of Peter's faith. Sometimes we're out there walking on water in the midst of our storm, can't see Jesus face because of the wind and the rain, but we can hear His voice, and we simply...stop. We relying on God as our strength and protection and so we get swept up by the waves.
I want to encourage you today to carry on in the strength, wisdom, and love of God, because He will love you when you're walking on water and He will love you when you're sinking. Sinking in the unforgiveness. Sinking in the bitterness. In the doubt and uncertainty. Don't give up God in the midst of your storm. Walk on!
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