Faith amidst the storms
Last weekend’s worship included the account of Jesus feeding over 5,000 people. When His disciples heard Jesus tell them that they should give the people something to eat, they saw no possible way of accomplishing that. But when they brought what they had to Him, they learned that with God all things are possible.
We all know the truth of that, but living in that confidence 100% of the time can be a challenge as we see in this weekend’s Gospel account from Matthew 14. Jesus dismissed the crowds who had been fed the bread and fish and sent the disciples away in a boat while He remained by Himself to pray. While on the Sea of Galilee at night, the disciples got caught in a strong wind and high waves. Jesus came walking on the water, but they thought it was a ghost. Jesus told them not to be afraid, that it was He. Peter, who always wanted to be with the Lord, asked if he could come out to Him, walking on the water.
We all know it is impossible to walk on water. Peter did as well, yet he had just witnessed what Jesus had done with five loaves of bread and two fish. With God all things are possible. But the wind and the waves brought him back to reality – human reality. As he began to sink, he cried out to Jesus who reached out and saved him, getting him back to the boat. Once again, the lesson is taught that with God, all things are possible.
But there is another lesson, isn’t there? It is the lesson of God’s patient love. Like Peter, we vacillate between moments of strong faith and timid doubt. We go between relying on our Lord’s sure Word and our limited understanding. And when we find ourselves sinking in the midst of life’s challenges, we call out for salvation. And God’s answer? “It is I (or, “I Am”). Don’t be afraid.”
The disciples had the great privilege of being with our Lord day in and day out, and with time, through the Spirit’s power, their trust and reliance on this loving, patient God continued to increase so that when, as was the case for most of them, they ended up being martyred for the faith they did not shrink back or sink into despair, but boldly walked through the darkest of valleys with Jesus. We have the great privilege of being with Jesus and hearing His voice each day through the Word and gathering with each other to worship our Lord and celebrate His Supper. And as we do, the Holy Spirit also increases in us the faith which doesn’t sink in the midst of storms but relies on a God who does the impossible and brings us through this life to the perfect life to come in the Father’s House.
Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord; Lead me home. LSB #739, v. 1