The Dark Side of Fear
But when he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:30 ESV)
This is a cry from a man who probably bit off more than he could chew. A man who willingly jumped at the chance to walk on water but suddenly realized he was walking on water.
His step of faith also exposed his dark side of fear.
When we take a chance of faith, we also take a chance to really blow it. Of course the alternative is to do nothing, play it safe, never experience the need for God to step in. That kind of life doesn't do much for anyone. It doesn't inspire. It doesn't make it into Gospels.
Peter is the disciple MOST people appreciate because he tried and failed. If he never tried we wouldn't know him, and if he had never failed, we wouldn't be able to sympathize with him.
Peter's failures help as much as his successes.
Peter is a lot like us. There is a part of us that wants to get out of the boat and go after great things, but there's also a part of us that fears what may happen if we fail.
I think that this story tells us it is better to try and fail. Because even in failure we learn, you experience something new, you find out how NOT to do it next time. And even others can learn from your experience or at least appreciate your humanity.
How many sermons have been preached on this passage to challenge Christians to step out of their comfort zones, to attempt great things for God, do things they never thought possible? How many people have ended up doing great things because of those sermons? How many lives have lived beyond the ordinary because of Peter's attempt at the extraordinary?
Which begs the question? Is my life and my faith in practice a story worth telling? Even if it exposes the dark side of my fear?
PRAYER:
Father, help me to take risks for you. I don't want to play it safe. I want to experience walking on water. I want to do something new. Even if it seems impossible, give me the faith to take a step. Amen.
This is a cry from a man who probably bit off more than he could chew. A man who willingly jumped at the chance to walk on water but suddenly realized he was walking on water.
His step of faith also exposed his dark side of fear.
When we take a chance of faith, we also take a chance to really blow it. Of course the alternative is to do nothing, play it safe, never experience the need for God to step in. That kind of life doesn't do much for anyone. It doesn't inspire. It doesn't make it into Gospels.
Peter is the disciple MOST people appreciate because he tried and failed. If he never tried we wouldn't know him, and if he had never failed, we wouldn't be able to sympathize with him.
Peter's failures help as much as his successes.
Peter is a lot like us. There is a part of us that wants to get out of the boat and go after great things, but there's also a part of us that fears what may happen if we fail.
I think that this story tells us it is better to try and fail. Because even in failure we learn, you experience something new, you find out how NOT to do it next time. And even others can learn from your experience or at least appreciate your humanity.
How many sermons have been preached on this passage to challenge Christians to step out of their comfort zones, to attempt great things for God, do things they never thought possible? How many people have ended up doing great things because of those sermons? How many lives have lived beyond the ordinary because of Peter's attempt at the extraordinary?
Which begs the question? Is my life and my faith in practice a story worth telling? Even if it exposes the dark side of my fear?
PRAYER:
Father, help me to take risks for you. I don't want to play it safe. I want to experience walking on water. I want to do something new. Even if it seems impossible, give me the faith to take a step. Amen.
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