When I look back on my life and the many twists and turns that it has taken, I have found that there are many places and ways that God has intervened. Of course, I never saw it at that time and in that way. It’s only in looking back and reflecting on it is where I see His hand in each turn of that timeframe. I’m very sure that you may feel the same way, if you look back on your own twist and turns that have occurred in your own life.
Now, I know, that not everyone is at the same place at the same time, but since I now see Him in each of those paths in my life, I KNOW in my heart that I rely on Him more and more now, to get me through the next juncture in that path as well. It reminds me of when Peter and the disciples were on a boat after the feeding of the five thousand and they were being tossed around by the waves. In Matthew 14: 28. Peter spoke with Jesus and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Peter took a leap of faith and stepped out of the boat but grew frightened because of the strong wind and water and cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” where Jesus reached out his hand and lifted him up and did not let him drown.
I think about that a lot and it makes me think about the courage that it took for Peter to do something that logistically shouldn’t have been able to happen, but God still provided a way. Here’s the thing, God ALWAYS has a way of making things right in our lives, even when everything else says it is improbable and even impossible. He knows what’s deep in our hearts. He knows our deepest wishes and desires. Maybe it’s things that we’ve never even said to anyone else. Moreover, He knows more than that…. He knows what we truly NEED. (Related post: God’s in the Details)
When we are choosing to trust God with everything that can and will happen in our lives, we are beginning to take that leap of faith. We have reverted to that childhood game of, “Catch me, daddy!”, just knowing that He will do just that because that’s what having faith is truly all about. (Related post: An Act of Faith)
What did I learn from this? I can try to do things on my own and sometimes they turn out okay, for a while. I have to battle my human nature, which causes me to worry about something (or anything) until I am consumed with it. Yet, I have discovered that with God, all things just turn out for the better, if only I had turned to Him first, then I wouldn’t have lived with all this stress that I put myself under. I also have begun to understand that there was purpose in the paths that I was on, although I didn’t know it at that time. So, what did I truly learn from this? I want to be brave like Peter when he first stepped out of the boat not even fully understanding or remembering that Jesus wouldn’t ever let him go even when he was afraid.
So, what can you learn from this? I tend to think that it’s a process that us humans need to go through before we get to that point to being able to take that leap of faith. My suggestion? Look back on your own journey and ask yourself about the times that our Lord and Savior showed up for you. Did He ever let go of you during those times? Maybe we think that He did, but instead it was us who closed the door on Him and then blamed Him for the choices that we had made. It takes a lot of humble honesty to see and admit where and when we didn’t trust God enough with our struggles. If that is the case, realize that our Lord and Savior is never so far away where He won’t help you out of the pit that you are in. It just takes a leap of faith and then He will hold you tight and never let you go. (Related post: “My peace I give you”)
A Joyful Mission 