By: Svetlana Papazov
Q1: Have you ever had a time in your life when it should’ve been smooth sailing, but in reality it was just the opposite?
One stormy circumstance after another. For some, as soon as you began following Jesus, all relationship broke loose; for others, you decided in obedience to tithe and went out in the deep with your generosity, but your employment hit rough waters; for others as soon a you committed to your church family as the bible encourages us to be faithful, your work schedule got so overwhelmed, your family is overtaken with sickness, so much coming at you and all the same time.
But we are not alone trying to navigate the storms of life. As we watched Jesus’ disciples had just that type of experience right after one of the major miracles that Jesus did together with them. Then he gave them clear direction to get doing with the next assignment and get to a new territory but a storm threatened to overtake them.
Read Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus is inviting us to come to him. With him even in the eye of the storm, it is calm.
In the Sea of Galilee storms appear out of nowhere. Similarly, in our lives, storms seem to appear out of nowhere.
The Sea of Galilee is known for its violent storms, which can come up suddenly an be a life-threatening for any on its water. These tempests are caused by the situation of the lake in the Jordan Rift with steep hills on all sides. The cooler air masses from the surrounding mountains collide with the warm air in the lake’s basin. Winds sometimes funnel through the east-west-oriented valleys in the Galilean hill country and rush down the western hillsides of the lake. The most violent storms, however, are caused by the fierce winds which blow off the Golan Heights from the east. One such storm in March 1992 sent waves ten feet high (3 meters) crashing into downtown Tiberius and caused significant damage to the city.
The disciples of Jesus were caught in one of these life-threatening storms. In a small lake: 13 miles x 7.5 miles.
You would think one can go quickly from one side to the other. Often we too get caught in seemingly small issues that escalate to unfathomable proportions. We said some things that we didn’t really mean, just to make our point, you hurt your friend's feelings, you don’t apologize and next thing you know the little insignificant lake produced monsoon’s proportions of winds.
God is working with us. We often have a theology of partnership with God which functionally is God working with me and not me working with Him. The distortion shows up as a lack of stargazing at the greatness of God in how He is working.
We must be more in tune with the heart of God. Know our limits and find tremendous comfort knowing that God has non.
In the midst of our nightmares, Jesus comes as swiftly as the storm that hits us.
When we experience the buffeting winds, we forget about the previous miracles of God.
Q2: How do you typically react when the storms of life begin to rage? Do you cope, do you respond in emotion, or do you give it to God?
Sometimes the environments around us shake our lives to the point that no comfort zone is left, we are scared of what's to come and even for our lives. When Jesus shows up on the scene, we don’t recognize him; we mistake him for a ghost, someone from the dark side of things. Anything else, but God.
So the disciples called out to Jesus, to find out if it was him.
I have no idea how they heard his answer over the roaring sound of the waves and the sprays of water hitting the boat, but they did. Jesus always makes sure we know he is there for us, to partner with him.
We can choose to partner with Jesus. All activities with Jesus are supernatural. Walking on water means that you choose to join Jesus in his current supernatural activity.
Our supernatural season often starts in the midst of our worst natural nightmare.
Although Peter has seen Jesus perform miracles, he has never seen a human being walk on water. This was beyond all imagination; it defied all laws of gravity. But Peter desired deeply in his heart to join Jesus in this brand new, supernatural activity.
Peter said Jesus I recognize your brand new, supernatural activity. I’ve seen you feed the crowds with a handful of fish and bread, heal the sick, cast out demons but I've never seen a human being walk where humans are not supposed to walk...on water. The winds didn’t die down; the boat didn’t get still, just because he wanted to join Jesus. Jesus’ response: "Peter, come!"
We need to take possession of the places where Jesus is walking on water. Jesus is breaking the gravity rule, where there is a new work being worked in our lives, in our homes, in our own relationships, in our health, finances. All these domains we can take to Jesus just like Peter did. Who in the midst of a horrific storm wanted to come and experience the new, supernatural work of Jesus by walking over the stormy waves?
We walk by faith, not by sight. The minute you take your eyes off of Jesus, you are going from the supernatural of God to the natural of man and sink.
Any time you agree by faith that Jesus is welcomed to change your circumstances; you are inviting the supernatural of God to interrupt the natural of man.
It is more about the fact that we cannot control anymore our circumstance; we are totally and completely vulnerable, exposed to the brutal violent storm winds we are in. Initially, our attention is on Jesus and his miraculous activity in the midst of our turmoil. So we focus our hope on Jesus.
But as we ask him to go, he invites us to enter his supernatural, in the midst of our miraculous season, we may find ourselves sinking, if we take our sight off Jesus and focus it on the circumstance that required the miracle in the first place.
Choose to get out of the boat, and by faith walk on the water of your circumstances; trusting that if you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will be victorious.
Reflection: What circumstances are you facing today? Have you prayed and asked Jesus to help you? Have faith that it will work out as you surrender to Jesus.
Prayer: God I pray for those who are dealing with the trials of life. I pray for encouragement, understanding, and increased faith to see your supernatural healing and power take place in their lives. We honor and praise your name, for no matter the situation, you are always good. Amen.
Svetlana Papazov is Lead Pastor and Founder of Real Life Church, President/Founder of Real Life Center for Entrepreneurial and Leadership Excellence, a first of its kind model of church and business incubator that educates in entrepreneurship, leadership and faith praxis, and author of the book, “Church for Monday.”