ArOnIL

Being a Christian was never meant to be a bed of roses. Any Christian will know this all to well. We have been called to suffer just as Jesus came to suffer for us. But in the end, we will find eternal peace and rest after the ride or journey of suffering. I remember someone once told me 'You should be more worried if you find that your life if smooth sailing, for it would mean that there is something is a miss.' Not the exact words but something like that. Basically when everything is always all right, not only do we not learn anything, we also do not grow from it. The trials we go through in life are a test and also a way of how God wishes to mould us for his purpose. That is how we build character in ourselves.

Now i come to the part of what i actually want to share. Scripture reading...

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them,
walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,
they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit;
and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying,
Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou,
bid me come unto thee on the water.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come
down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous,
he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth [his] hand,
and caught him, and said unto him,

O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?



The last line made an impact. Sometimes when God shows Himself to us, we choose to see Him as something foreign, just like what the disciples said.

Then after that we will ask Him to prove Himself to us even though He already has appeared before us because we are not satistfied. As humans we always want something more solid in order to believe in it. We call to Him, to reveal Himself to us and to speak to us. As He hear our pleas, He beckons us and we move to Him eagerly with yearning, just like Peter.

We are moving across the water to Jesus, because of our belief and faith that we have in Him. In the beginning it would seem strong and secure, but sometimes due to unfortunate events, circumstances, mishaps. Our faith can also be rocked by a gust of wind. If we allow it that wind will topple us and our faith will be not be solid and secure anymore. Here Peter calls out to the Lord for help. Jesus caught him, but said "You of little faith, why do you doubt?"

Our God knows we are weak, therefore He'll always be there to catch us before we sink to the bottom. But then again, why should our faith even be shaken. Why should we even have doubt, when we know what is really true. We should know our Jesus by heart for we have a relationship with Him. Those who have no faith have no need to fear of this dilemma. But we are human and have fear.Is our faith so little, then when we face a hurdle it causes our fear to overwhelm us until we end up doubting?

As His people, it's not enough to just know Him for the sake of knowing Him or even because we have facts. It is necessary that we yearn and seek to know him with all our heart,mind,body and soul. Trust in Him and all else will be clear.

"Venture on him, venture wholly;
Let no other trust intrude."

- Mr Fearing Comforted.
http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0246.htm