When you get that sinking feeling

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God," (Psalm 146:5)

There are times when I feel like I can walk on water so to speak. But there are other times when I've been anxious and doubtful about whether or not I have what it takes to be an effective Pastor and church leader. It must have felt exhilarating to Peter when he walked on the water after being given permission to do so by Jesus. But then he got that sinking feeling. And it wasn't just a feeling of course.  Peter literally began to sink down into the water.  What happen to him? Jesu gives us the answer. When Peter began to sink and cried out for Jesus to save him, notice the Lord's response:  "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31) Why did his faith falter, which led him to doubt? In verse 30 we read: "But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30). When he saw Jesus walking on the water, his heart was so filled with faith that he asked the Lord to command him to come to him on the water. And when the Lord said come, in the midst of a storm, he came out of the boat and went to Jesus on the water. Everything was going fine until he saw the effects of the  wind, until he began to focus on the storm raging around him. Later, Jesus would tell Peter, "Satan desires to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith fail not." Peter's faith did falter from time to time, but in the end it never failed. In the end he made it safely to shore. Our faith will falter. At times we may sink down with doubts and fears when we take our eyes of the one who walks on our fears. If that's where you are today cry out to Jesus and in his mercy and grace he will extend his hand to you. Take his hand today and be encouraged by knowing that the God who made the oceans is walking with you. The God who said, "the earth is my foot stool" is holding your hand. "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God," (Psalm 146:5)