“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”
Psalm 33:20 NIV
The Hebrew word used for “wait” in Psalm 33:20 implies being tied to or binding yourself to something.
For me, the picture of a seatbelt comes to mind.
When I was a teenager, I went to the movies with a friend. I met him at his house, climbed into his truck and buckled myself in. We drove down the street and then he stopped. He told me that we were going to take a shortcut and we were going to go off-roading. He checked my seatbelt, put his truck in four-wheel drive and turned toward the ravine. I was excited, slightly terrified and said, “Let’s go for it!” I have never appreciated a seatbelt more. It held me in my seat on the sharp inclines and steep declines, over the rocky bumps and through the unlevel dry river beds. We arrived at the theater with plenty of time, but to be honest, I remember the journey there more than the movie we saw.
Following Jesus is more like off-roading than driving on the freeway.
He takes you to new places, asks you to grow out of your comfort zones and challenges you to take the road not traveled.
Today Jesus may be calling you to go off-road, or like Peter: out of the boat.
When Peter saw Jesus, he asked Him if he could join Jesus out there on the water. Jesus said yes and Peter went over the side of the boat:
“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.”
Matthew 14:29-30 NLT
“Streams of the Desert”:
“Once he had stepped out of the boat, the waves were none of his business”.
– Streams of the Desert
Peter’s job wasn’t to walk on water but it was to keep his eyes on Jesus.
As we all try to navigate the unknown future that is daily being created by the Covid-19 Virus, being stuck at home may be our new “off-road”. Having nowhere to go may be harder because you can’t run from the problems there. I can guarantee that God wants to take this time to grow your faith, your prayer life, and your relationships.
Maybe today, God is asking you to reconcile a relationship that has been broken or work on one in your home. Now is the time to be brave. Get close to God, put your faith-belt on and tell the truth. It’s not going to be easy but you are not alone in it.
What is God challenging you to trust Him in today?
Who do you need the faith to reach out to?
