We were challenged recently in a message at our church to be like Jesus' disciple, Peter, who got out of a boat in a stormy sea and walked on the water.  He was doing fine until he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the wind and waves around him.  Then he became afraid and began to sink, until Jesus reached out to him and brought him safely back to the boat.

How many of us have started walking out to Jesus in faith, but when the storms of life hit, as they surely will, we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on the waves around us.  What storms are you facing today?  Health problems, financial difficulties, marriage conflict, loneliness, fear, depression? If Peter was around today, he would tell you to keep your eyes on Jesus at all costs. But if Peter had a hard time doing that and he was looking at Jesus in person, how do we keep our focus on Him and not on our problems, which seem to demand our attention?

Let's look briefly at Asaph, a man in Old Testament times, who was about to go under, but was able to get his footing just in time.  It's found in Psalm 73.  He tried to understand what was going on, but it only made him more depressed, until he went into the sanctuary of God and was able to get the bigger picture.  He went from being envious, grieved and embittered, to realizing that God was with him continually and even holding him by his hand.  What a powerful revelation!  God holding his hand! 

He goes on to say, "Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge." 

He was able to keep from sinking by looking to God and pouring out his heart to Him. God met him there. And what we are so blessed to have, which Asaph didn't have, is the whole Bible, by which we can know God and what His thoughts and ways are.

So, how do we walk on water without sinking?  Only by His grace - which we can experience in prayer and hiding God's Word in our hearts.  When you face difficulties remember that Jesus is still walking on the stormy seas of life as He walked the waves of Galilee.  He is bidding you to walk on water and come to Him.  He will hold your hand and take you back to safety. Just keep your eyes on Him.