Sermon - 2014-08-10

1 Kings 19:9-18

Psalm 85:8-13

Romans 10:5-15

Matthew 14:22-33

Life has within it, moments of routine.  Times when we know what is going to happen, and things that we feel happy about.  It is full of moments in which we are surrounded by our loved ones.  Moments that are done over and over again;  like waking up in the morning, getting ready for a new day, enjoying breakfast,  going  off to work to be part of the community. We share in the continued function of this world, going outside and mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, or even going to school.  These are moments that we overlook or do not fully appreciate when we are in the midst of them.  In fact, sometimes we feel bored. We complain that it is not fun or that we do not want to do it.  It is these mundane and routine moments in which we spend and enjoy most of our lives.  

But in an instance, we are facing things we could not have imagined were happening to us.  We find ourselves in troubled waters.  Moments in which we are tossed about.  The wind is so strong that waves wash over us and we feel overwhelmed with all that is going on. We have no solid footing and we have no peace. Our world gets tossed about and it doesn’t look the same as before.  In some instances, our lives will never be the same ever again.  

The storm seems to rage on for so long.  We begin to find anything that we can.  Anything that would save us from that time.  Something that saves us from the storm and return us back to the lives that we once enjoyed. It is here that we find the disciples in the story today.  The disciples are being tossed about in a storm which they did not see coming and feeling like they had no control.  They are drenched from waves that entered onto the boat and even from the sweat from their fear.  They even think that they see a ghost of Jesus, their teacher, friend, and savior.

Even when seeing this familiar image, the disciples are filled with doubt.  Jesus shouldn’t be walking on the water.  We left him on the shore where he was praying.  Besides that, no one can walk on water.  This doesn’t make sense.  Things do not add up.  Yet it is here that Peter calls out to Jesus, “Lord if that is you, tell me to walk outside the boat.”  

Well now this is just getting even more illogical. In the middle of a storm, it does not make sense to get out of a boat.   You are safer in a boat.  I mean it is one thing for Jesus to walk on the water in the middle of the storm.  He is the Messiah and the Son of God.  Peter is saying that he has enough faith in Jesus that he will also walk on water.  Peter wants do the same things that Jesus is doing in the world.   

When Jesus enters into our storms, into our struggles of our life, we often ask that Jesus would lead us and guide us.  However, just like Peter, the strong wind and unevenness of the waters of the world are still too much for us to take on for ourselves. Our doubt begins to consume us. We fall back into the water and into our certain death.  It is when we are faced with our own greatest fear that we call out to Jesus.  Jesus comes and carries us.  That’s right, we realize that we never have enough faith or trust in God to do the things that God is doing in our lives.  We are reminded that we are in need of God for so much that we can not control or even understand in the world.  

Yet, what if we lived every single day that way. Knowing and trusting that Jesus was with us, caring for our every needs and watching over all that we are and do.  Instead of us being in control, the creator and sustainer of the entire universe would be the one who would care for us.  Would you worry about some of the same things that you are currently worried about?  Would you appreciate the loved ones and the time that you have with them more?  Would you trust God to lead you to places that do not make sense but grow closer to Jesus?

Jesus carried Peter back into the boat, calmed the winds and the waves.  Returning him and all the disciples to that same boring world, filled with routine and similar events that they enjoyed before.  Now, they looked upon them in new ways.  Please understand that I am not saying that God creates the storms in our lives.  Yet, God uses those moments in which we realize that we are not God, to draw us closer to him.  God does this so that we may live our lives for his service and sharing his love that he gives to us every single day.  

May you go forth, to be blessed with a regular routine, loved ones, and still waters.  But also that you would grow closer to God along the way.  Amen.