Overwhelmed

Happy Sunday. I usually record these messages on Wednesdays for release the following Sunday. Not so this week; life was too hectic. Today's message was recorded on Thursday, late Thursday.

I was trying to prepare for this message when my phone kept ringing, and while I was on the phone it kept beeping from other calls and text messages. Two funeral homes called me about five funerals, and I had a call to make to see if I could help a family that was in crisis. And to keep up with New Year's resolutions, I haven't walked yet today to keep the resolution. The word "overwhelmed" came to my mind.

Do you ever feel that way? Sometimes the upright get uptight. I knew the answer before I asked the question, if you ever feel that way. Of course you do; we all have those days. Today I want to talk about how to stay above water, or how to think. It's our choice, isn't it?

Matthew tells a great story in chapter 14, beginning in verse 22. I'll begin reading there. It's after Jesus fed a big crowd, and it says, "Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After he dismissed the crowds, he went up to the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from land, the wind was against them. And early in the morning Jesus came walking towards the disciples on the sea. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, 'It's a ghost,' and they cried out in fear."

We're told, "Immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, 'Take heart, it's I, it's me, don't be afraid.' Peter answered, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' Jesus said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me.' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and called him, saying to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?'"

I think we've talked about this story before, and I bet we will again. I love it. I am impressed with Peter. Yes, he did sink a bit, but at least he tried. The other 11 guys just sat in the boat.

As far as I know, there are only two people That Ever Walked on Water: one was Jesus, and one was Peter. Peter's thinking is understandable to me. I've done the same thing he did. I bet you've done it too.

I have taken my eyes off of Jesus for little bits. That's what we do when we doubt. That's what we do when we sin. That's what we do when we worry. When we take our eyes off of Jesus and focus on the wind and the waves and the storms around us, we begin to sink, don't we?

If we take our eyes off of the Living God, we are headed for trouble. There are so many applications here. If I exclude God from my relationship with my wife, I will sink as a husband, and our marriage will suffer. If I take my eyes off of God as a father, my relationship with my kids will suffer. If I exclude God from my moral choices or my finances, I will sink.

What is it that you need to keep your eyes on God about? Is there a situation going on that you haven't turned over to him completely? Life can be hectic. If you keep your eyes on this world or on the news more than on God, you'll think the winds blow and the waves come, and, well, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, by Prayer, by reading his word, by Fellowship, by being fed.

My feeling of being overwhelmed earlier today was taken care of when I stopped and prayed and took some time to look at God for strength. As I record this, the same storms are before me. I have just chosen where to look.

I love how Jesus talks about our choice to sink or to stand firm in Matthew chapter 7. I'll read verses 24 through 27. Jesus said, "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on Solid Rock. Though the rain come in Torrance and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on bedrock." That's the good news. That's where we should be.

Jesus goes on and says, "But anyone who hears my teaching and does not listen is like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash." We live in a world where too many are collapsing because their house is not built on the solid rock. I'll use that scripture at some of the many funerals I'll officiate in the next week or so. For the Believers, it's great news; from the unbelievers, it serves as a wake-up call.

Happy New Year. I pray, when the winds blow and the storms come, because they will and they do, that you keep your eyes on Jesus. Pray with me.

Father God, thank you for always being there, and forgive us for forgetting that. Thank you for the encouragement we find in your word, and the challenges we find there too. Help us to continue to work on our foundations. Help us to continue to look for Christ. Help us to look for you every moment of every day.

Forgive us when we take our eyes off and we begin to sink. We thank you for reaching out for us, for putting your hand out and pulling up Peter that day, and doing the same for us more than once. Father, be with us. Bless each one. In Jesus' name, amen. God bless.