G
gods_kid
Guest
Ecclesiastes 11:4 tells us that if we watch the wind we will not plant, and if we look at the clouds we will not reap. I think there are times when it's just impossible to NOT watch the wind or look at the clouds - especially when that wind is ripping your world apart and those clouds are blocking every last bit of light. I think those are the times God is ok with us just shutting our eyes and holding on for dear life. I don't think we can always distinguish which is more important: holding on or fixing our eyes on the right thing. I think it varies.
There are times when our eyes are stronger. We don't have the strength to hold on (not on our own), but we do have the strength to keep our eyes wide open and focused on that Man walking towards us on the crashing, overwhelming waves. Even as we feel our grip slipping, we are able to fix our eyes on the Calmer of the Seas.
There are times when our hands are stronger. Like a drowning man - and that's exactly what we are - we reach out desperately for something, anything, to hold onto so we don't go under, so we aren't washed completely away by the storms. We can see Jesus but only in glimpses....He seems to come and go as the wind and rain and darkness play with our vision. Or He doesn't seem to be out there anywhere at all. If we can keep our hold, if we can allow God to keep HIS hold, even when we do not see our Life Guard, He is there and if we keep our hold we'll make it through.
When God is teaching us to be water-walkers, the storms come. And they come and they come and they come. We are overwhelmed, we are soaked, we are dislodged, and we see things in our lives - relationships, jobs, dreams, hopes - broken apart and swept away by the furious waves. It's those furious waves we are asked to rise up and walk upon. It seems impossible, and it's never a straight line we have to walk, and the waves do not die down and nor does the wind. The elements around us do not calm down so we can walk on smooth, serene waters. We are asked to get out of the boat and walk in the middle of the worst, most damaging storms. Walking calm waters only means we have skill to keep our balance. Walking furious, deadly waters means we have a God that keeps our balance for us.
We look around and we see no trace of God in our storms. No trace of Jesus. No trace of the Holy Spirit. We see no trace of anything but desolation and fear and loss. The lack of footprints does not signify a lack of God. Our God - your God - comes to us on those turbulent waters....do not look for traces of Him there.
Walking on water leaves no footprints.
There are times when our eyes are stronger. We don't have the strength to hold on (not on our own), but we do have the strength to keep our eyes wide open and focused on that Man walking towards us on the crashing, overwhelming waves. Even as we feel our grip slipping, we are able to fix our eyes on the Calmer of the Seas.
There are times when our hands are stronger. Like a drowning man - and that's exactly what we are - we reach out desperately for something, anything, to hold onto so we don't go under, so we aren't washed completely away by the storms. We can see Jesus but only in glimpses....He seems to come and go as the wind and rain and darkness play with our vision. Or He doesn't seem to be out there anywhere at all. If we can keep our hold, if we can allow God to keep HIS hold, even when we do not see our Life Guard, He is there and if we keep our hold we'll make it through.
When God is teaching us to be water-walkers, the storms come. And they come and they come and they come. We are overwhelmed, we are soaked, we are dislodged, and we see things in our lives - relationships, jobs, dreams, hopes - broken apart and swept away by the furious waves. It's those furious waves we are asked to rise up and walk upon. It seems impossible, and it's never a straight line we have to walk, and the waves do not die down and nor does the wind. The elements around us do not calm down so we can walk on smooth, serene waters. We are asked to get out of the boat and walk in the middle of the worst, most damaging storms. Walking calm waters only means we have skill to keep our balance. Walking furious, deadly waters means we have a God that keeps our balance for us.
We look around and we see no trace of God in our storms. No trace of Jesus. No trace of the Holy Spirit. We see no trace of anything but desolation and fear and loss. The lack of footprints does not signify a lack of God. Our God - your God - comes to us on those turbulent waters....do not look for traces of Him there.
Walking on water leaves no footprints.