In The Middle Of It

In Matt. 14 Jesus strongly urged His disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side of the lake.  It had been a very intense time for all of them.  They had experienced the death of John the Baptist, and then as they went away into a deserted place, they were followed by over 5000 people.  Jesus healed the sick, and they fed the multitude.  Now Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and go.  The disciples were out on the lake, and Jesus was having alone time with the Father.  How much we need alone time with our Heavenly Father!  "But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary."We must not forget that while we may be having communion with the Father, others may be in a fight for their lives.  Now, in the middle of the sea, the disciples are being tossed, slapped back and forth by the waves, with the wind beating down against them.  These seasoned fishermen knew they may die out in this storm.  They are in the middle of it.  There will be times in the Christian life when we feel we are in the middle of it!  We will be tossed by the circumstances, being caught up in a storm that we didn't even see coming.  The disciples previous experience did not prepare them for this.  They had been caught in a storm before with Jesus in the boat, but this time Jesus is no where to be seen.  This time it was different.  Past experience is no guarantee of future performance!  They felt alone and lost, and without faith.  Jesus comes to them in the most unexpected way and in the most unusual way!  The disciples see Him walking on the sea, and cry out for fear, thinking it is a ghost, a sign of impending death.  Mark's version of the story says "...and He would have passed them by."  Jesus wants us to cry out in our time of need.  Jesus' words cut across everything they are thinking and feeling, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  The Word brings peace in the middle of our storm.  Peter invites himself out into the water to walk with Jesus.  We are free to invite ourselves out in our walk with God.  When we want more, we can find more.  We are welcome to walk with Jesus in the middle of our storm.  Even in the middle of it, we can know the presence and power of Jesus, and walk in the supernatural with Him. 

What do you do when you are in the middle of it?