Battling Anxiety, Finding JesusSample

When I returned to my campsite after falling in the water, my wife asked me how it went. In the twilight shadows, it was evident that she couldn't see my soaked clothes. "Well, I fell." After she said she was sorry to hear that, I shared my epiphany on the water that night and my conversation with God. "Wow," she said. "That sounds like something that will end up in a sermon or book one day." She was right, as you're now reading this story yourself.

As I walked from the shore to the campsite, a thought hit me: "You know, Scott, you get to decide what story you tell about what happened on the water. You can tell your wife and friends about falling in front of people and getting soaking wet. You can also tell about the beauty of the scenery, the renewal in your soul, and the realizations you had on the water."

I chose to tell the second version of the story to my wife, my friends, my church in a sermon, and you today in this devotional. Do you have a similar choice in front of you today?

I ask that question because we must be careful about the story we tell when we fall. Our decisions and experiences eventually become stories that we tell or others tell about us. The stories we tell make sense of what we've done and shape what we decide to do in the future.

Consider Peter's decision to walk on the water and his experience sinking into the waves. After Jesus catches him and pulls him out of the water, the Messiah says, "You of little faith…why did you doubt?" Because of how many interpret this verse, Peter has been held up as a failure for taking his eyes off Jesus and sinking in the storm.

But there are better ways to interpret that passage. Yes, Peter had little faith, but he had faith! Peter's faith was big enough to get him out of the boat and onto the water - something no one else in Scripture does, apart from Jesus. Jesus challenged Peter to consider what he could have done with more faith. However, acknowledging where Peter had room to grow is not the same as condemning him for getting out of the boat or shaming him in front of the disciples.

There's a difference between Jesus challenging Peter and Jesus shaming or condemning Peter. Jesus consistently encouraged His disciples by reminding them what faith the size of a mustard seed (the smallest of all the seeds) could do in the Kingdom of God. As Peter sat back in the boat, he had an opportunity to decide what story he would tell himself and others about what happened on the water that night. Would Peter focus on walking on the water part or sinking in the water part? Would Peter mention that he was the one who sank or the only one who got out of the boat?

Just as Peter could have told himself any number of stories in Matthew 14 and as I could have told myself many stories after I fell in the water, you have a similar choice. What are you going to do with your stumbles and falls? How will you handle your weaknesses and disappointments? Will you focus on your fear of other people's opinions, or will you focus on what God says about you?

In the middle of your battle, God is present with you, at work all around you, and speaking to you if you'll be patient and still enough to listen. You may have questions and doubts, but don't forget what God can do with even a little faith!

Tomorrow, we will wrap up this plan by setting expectations for the next phase of your battle. Expectations are everything when it comes to following Jesus.