29 June 2023 - In difficult times - What are you seeing?

Matthew 14:25-26 (NLT) About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

During the storm in the night, the disciples were not able to see Jesus for who He was. He was the one that came to rescue them; He was the one that watched over them. He was the one that prayed for them. Jesus cared for his disciples. Jesus was the one that insisted that they get into the boat and that they had to cross over to the other side. He was walking on water to rescue them.

The Bible says that when they saw him walking on water, they were terrified. They thought it was a ghost. That is the problem with many people; instead of seeing Jesus as the answer, the solution, the one who calms the storm, He is seen as a ghost. Storms can blind us to not recognise Jesus. Some people even blame God for their storms.

Sometimes we are so focused on the problem that we cannot see the solution. The more we focus on the problem, the more significant it becomes. What you focus on is what becomes powerful.

“What you stay focused on will grow.” ― Roy T. Bennett

Do you focus on the storm or the solution? The more we place our focus on the storm, the more significant it becomes; it is then that we see ghosts instead of the Miracle Worker come walking towards us. When the solution comes toward you, but your focus is not aligned with the solution, you will only see ghosts, for you will be driven by fear. Fear is the opposite of faith.

Luke 24:37 (NLT) But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

When the risen Jesus first appeared to his disciples, they were terrified, believing Him to be a ghost. Luke 24:39 (NLT) Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.

God is greater than any storm that you may go through. Keep your focus on God, not the storm, the wind or the waves.

Our focus should be on God. I am sure that if the disciple’s focus had been on Jesus, they would have recognised him.

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT) You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD God is the eternal Rock.

So, in difficult times, what do you see, the magnitude of your problem or your God?

I conclude with Psalm 147:5 (ESV) Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.