You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is 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!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
Matthew 14:24-33
The story above in Matthew is the perfect example of Isaiah 26:3 in action. The Lord keeps us in perfect peace when our minds are on Him, because we trust in Him. When Peter got out of the boat and began walking on water in the midst of a storm, it was because Jesus told Him to come and he trusted Jesus. He trusted that the Lord would not tell him to come on the waves if he would not “support” him on the waves. Peter got out of the boat and began walking on water in the middle of a storm.
Peter moved his focus though. He began to look at the water and wind around him. The wind was boisterous [rough & stormy]. When his focus moved from Jesus to his surroundings, he began to sink. And Jesus, so mercifully, caught Peter and took him to the boat.
When you pass through the waters, I [will be] with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Isaiah 42:2
We are not promised a life without trouble. As a matter of fact, next time you feel like you are having a rough day, read through Hebrews 11 and see what our Christian brothers and sisters have gone through. But the glorious thing that they knew and that we know is that no matter what we are walking through, God will be with us. And when we keep our mind on HIM, we will have peace. Peace in the midst of the storm. Peace in the midst of the waves and wind. Peace in the midst of the flood and the fire.
Peace in hard times. Peace in trials. Peace that passes all understanding… because the world has no idea how we can be in the middle of those tough times and have peace. It is only because our minds are on the Prince of Peace – Jesus Christ.
Do not let the wind and waves take your mind and eyes off of Jesus. The only way our life will stay in an eternal perspective is through Jesus.
Father,
I speak peace over every family, over every person, and over every heart in our youth and church. I pray that you would give us the proper perspective to see every trial in the paradigm of eternity. Help us to keep our eyes and our minds on You so that we can have your peace and hope. In Jesus name, give us peace in the middle of every storm.
Amen.
Isaiah 26:3
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is 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!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
Matthew 14:24-33
The story above in Matthew is the perfect example of Isaiah 26:3 in action. The Lord keeps us in perfect peace when our minds are on Him, because we trust in Him. When Peter got out of the boat and began walking on water in the midst of a storm, it was because Jesus told Him to come and he trusted Jesus. He trusted that the Lord would not tell him to come on the waves if he would not “support” him on the waves. Peter got out of the boat and began walking on water in the middle of a storm.
Peter moved his focus though. He began to look at the water and wind around him. The wind was boisterous [rough & stormy]. When his focus moved from Jesus to his surroundings, he began to sink. And Jesus, so mercifully, caught Peter and took him to the boat.
When you pass through the waters, I [will be] with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Isaiah 42:2
We are not promised a life without trouble. As a matter of fact, next time you feel like you are having a rough day, read through Hebrews 11 and see what our Christian brothers and sisters have gone through. But the glorious thing that they knew and that we know is that no matter what we are walking through, God will be with us. And when we keep our mind on HIM, we will have peace. Peace in the midst of the storm. Peace in the midst of the waves and wind. Peace in the midst of the flood and the fire.
Peace in hard times. Peace in trials. Peace that passes all understanding… because the world has no idea how we can be in the middle of those tough times and have peace. It is only because our minds are on the Prince of Peace – Jesus Christ.
Do not let the wind and waves take your mind and eyes off of Jesus. The only way our life will stay in an eternal perspective is through Jesus.
Father,
I speak peace over every family, over every person, and over every heart in our youth and church. I pray that you would give us the proper perspective to see every trial in the paradigm of eternity. Help us to keep our eyes and our minds on You so that we can have your peace and hope. In Jesus name, give us peace in the middle of every storm.
Amen.
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