I have a devotion for you. It is a real life experience that I thought I would share with you. I had had a good week, but it was not without its challenges, big and small. I was exhausted and looking forward to my weekend. All weekend, I obsessed about a small issue. I couldn’t let it go,and it just was adding to other anxieties I was experiencing. Finally, Sunday morning, I was running to the grocery store, yet again, and I realized that I was stuck in this swirling pool or stormy water of anxiety when it happened.
In my mind’s eye in the distance, I saw Jesus. Now after years of children’s ministry and an abnormal obsession with clip art, this was the Jesus I saw:
I know, cartoon Jesus, but we actually connected. I saw him and I immediately thought, Peter walking on the water. Cartoon Jesus told me that I needed to remember that I was not alone . I needed to “Take courage, it is I”. I realized that I was not alone in my journey and anxiety. I needed to turn my cares over to Jesus, and trust him to smooth out the swirling waters of my anxiety.
I started to think about the story and Peter. I sometimes think Peter gets a bum wrap,. His exuberance sometimes got him in trouble. He was excited when he saw Jesus on the water and wanted to join him too, and walk on water, HOW cool is that? But like us, when we venture forth to try new things, we can lose sight of Jesus and become distracted and forget what’s important, but what I like about this story is, that even though Peter lost track of Jesus in the distance and started to sink, he remembered who would be able to save him. He didn’t ask the disciples to throw him a rope, he asked Jesus to help him.
As we journey and become distracted by the cares of the world, or our own anxieties, Jesus is there to smooth the waters, to hold onto us when we can’t tread water, and shine a bright light in the darkness of our worry and anxiety. I am glad I had my discussion with my Cartoon Jesus and I will keep my eyes on him and share and talk about everything! I will take a moment to be silent and listen for his voice too!
You can read the story in Matthew 14:22-33:
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Please join me in prayer,
Dear Jesus, thank you for walking with each of us in our journey. Help us to trust you with all our worries, big and small. Help us to remember that we are not alone. You are with us. You have placed amazing and wonderful people in our lives who love and care for us! Bless the lonely, sad, and scared, the searching and weary. Thank you for loving us, being with us, and being our help and hope
And ALL God’s Children said, AMEN!
| Water Image: Kevin Krejki on Flickr |
