You need to get to the other side, but the ice begins to crack beneath the weight of your steps. You begin backing up, as quickly, yet delicately, as you can as to not fall through the ice and into a cold, deep, unknown abyss.
I think this proverbial lake is a lot like our faith in Christ.
Do you continue walking, possibly falling to places you don't know or understand, or do you head back, to safer ground that your comfortable standing on?
Brian and I are currently living in the middle of that frozen lake. God gave him this analogy the other day, while he was deep in prayer, and I was simply in awe of the imagery.
This lake terrifies us.
We're standing in the middle, cracks and crevices threaten to pull us into a cold, unpleasant, truly scary body of water. On one side is stands our Savior, promising to never let us fall into this water and not be resurrected; on the other side is our comfy, pleasant little existence in this world.
Oh how many times we just want to run back to dry ground, to a place that we understand and can firmly plant our feet.
But, oh the joy, the peace, the life He promises on the other side of that lake, it's so amazing that we just want to get over there. Sometimes, we want to simply run across that lake, as fast as we humanly can.
But that's not good either. That act of disobedience is just as bad as giving up and heading back. We could fall in very easily once we begin racing to the other side.
No, sometimes simply walking, hand in hand with Him across a frozen lake is the way to go.
Remember when Jesus walked on water? It was very easy for Him. He never questioned whether He'd have the ability, ability from His Father. He simply stepped out, in complete confidence, and walked LITERALLY on top of water.
Now, do you remember the part right after Jesus walked?
"At once, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later in the evening, he was still there. By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves. A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples. When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming. At once, Jesus said to them, “Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid.” Peter replied, “Lord, if it really is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him. But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. At once, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don't have much faith. Why do you doubt?” The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!” Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and came to shore near the town of Gennesaret. (Matthew 14:22-31, 33, 34)
Peter had no faith that he could continue walking and then he began sinking. I think we all do this every day, oh so many times! We want Him, we request Him, yet we try and do things on our own, as Peter did, and we end up sinking.
Now, let's take a close look at that last line, "Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and came to shore near the town of Gennesaret"
Because of Jesus, they crossed the lake without any problems. The wind was calmed BY HIS HANDS, and He and the disciples safely made it where they intended on going.
We can all stand in this truth.
Whether you are walking on the frozen lake that Brian and I currently find ourselves in, or in a raging sea with turbulent waves and winds that seem so fierce they take your breath away, have faith that with Him, and only Him, you will make it to your destination!
Continue, slowly, and reach out for him! He will stop the cracks from creating such a hole that you fall in and are never be seen again!
I promise!
But it's not my promise you can take hope from, it's His!
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38, 39)
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