"And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it's You, command me to come to You on the water.' So He said, 'Come.' And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!'" Matthew 14:28-30).
"What's the matter, Timmy?" Grandfather sat by him on the back steps.
Shoulders slumped, he wrung his hands.
Grandfather waited a minute, and said, "Want to tell me about it?"
"Jake made fun of me in front of my friends. Says only sissies go to Sunday School and church. That real men don't need a crutch."
"Hmm. Let me tell you about a big guy, a real man. Made his living as a fisherman. One day, the Lord Jesus called him to fish for men."
"Whoa, Grandfather. What's this got to do with Jake?" Grandfather held up his hand.
"The fishermen shoved their boat out into the waters. By evening a storm came up, the waves tossed the boat like it was made of cardboard. They were terrified, even more so when they saw a figure walking on the water. Until He called out to them.
"'It's I. Don't be afraid.'
"This big tough guy, Peter, says, 'If it's you, command me to come to You.'
"'Come,' He said.
Peter crawled out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he looked down. Saw the waves licking his feet. 'I can't do this,' he thought and sank."
"Wait, Grandfather. What you're saying is, when the waves get strong and are tossing me about, I'm not supposed to pay attention to them?' Timmy shook his head. "That's hard, really hard."
"I agree. In fact, it's impossible." Timmy's sucked in a deep breath. "Unless the Hand that reaches for you, is the hand of the Lord Jesus." He released his breath with a sigh.
"We all need a Savior, Timmy. One who comes to us in the storms of life."
"Even you, Grandfather?"
Grandfather smiled. "Especially me, Timmy. We never outgrow our need for the Lord Jesus. You know what?"
Timmy shook his head.
"He's always there--"
"But we don't recognize Him 'til He says, 'Come?'"
"You got that right, son." He squeezed his grandson's shoulder.
Kingdom Thinking. The Lord Jesus came to me in a storm. He lifted me up out of the turbulent waters. He promises to love me and never forsake me. Do you have storms in your life? Call out to the Lord Jesus. He's there and He'll take your hand and lift you up.
Amen! We ALL need a friend in the storms of our lives. There's seasons of life, some short (illness), some long (caregiving, sometimes a terminal illness, and grieving), but knowing that we have a friend who never leaves us alone in our fear, pain, and sorrow brings certain relief to a Believer's heart. Thank you for sharing this parable Ms. Marjorie. You touched a soul this morning ma'am.
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