Why are you waiting to go to Jesus?

Is it because you’re quarantined and overwhelmed? Scared of what the fall will look like or numbed by the phone/TV/media distractions?

I gathered with a group of women to knock down the barriers (virtual church, canceled Bible studies, no break from the kids, etc.) between us and the Lord this week at a six-foot distance, of course. 

We prayed, worshipped, and reflected on the passage in Matthew (14:22-33) where Christ walks on water toward his disciples.

As we looked at how Peter responded, we asked ourselves, despite everything stripped away right now, why many of us are still waiting to go to Jesus.

²² Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. ²⁴ Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. ²⁵ During the fourth watch of the night,^[a] he came toward them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. ²⁷ At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I;^[b] do not be afraid.” ²⁸ Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,^[c] why did you doubt?” ³² After they got into the boat, the wind died down. ^{33 [d]}Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:22-33

What keeps us from going to him?

After Peter watched the miracle of Jesus walking on water, he trusted (28) Christ could help him do the same as he said.

He didn’t let his fear of the unknown keep him from stepping out in faith…until He lost Christ’s gaze (30).

How many times do we do this?

“I trust you, Lord. I really do,” we say. “Take my life, use it for your glory”…until life, busyness, and distractions get in the way and we turn our eyes from Him to the next thing.

When Peter looked away from the Lord toward the winds, he began to sink. When he trusted in his own power rather than his God’s, he began to fall.

Does it feel like you’re sinking right now? 

Many of us are walking through emotional, physical, and spiritual storms as we await the fall with so many unknowns.

We’re planning, bracing ourselves, and trying to cling to some small shred of control as we, like Peter, turn our eyes away from Him.

What I love about Peter is when he began to fall, he didn’t crumble in shame.

He looked back to Christ, immediately and almost instinctively through his fear, and said (31),

“Lord, save me!”

When he knew the situation (sinking, loss, COVID, etc.) was completely out of his power, he simply turned his gaze back to Jesus and asked for help.

The Lord immediately wrapped his arms around him (31), as any good father would do, and saved him from the storm.

Why do we wait to go to Jesus? 

Whether it’s quarantine barriers, not fully trusting He can help, being overwhelmed by distractions, crippled by fear, or unwilling to release control, why do we wait to take our fears, doubts, worries, and control to Him?

Our God is longing to hear our voice, for us to trust him with our fears and with our hearts. Click To Tweet

Let us turn our eyes towards Him and say, ‘Lord, save us.”

Just like he did with Peter, He wants to wrap His arms around us and meet us right where we’re at.