In the Midst of the Tempest

 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:30-31 ESV

Torrential rain is pounding the windshield of your dad’s sedan. The sound of rain overwhelmed only by the deep rolls of thunder. The darkness outside is periodically interrupted by quick, blinding flashes of lightning that streak across the night sky.

Alas, you’ve only made it to the young age of three and a half. From your carseat, you know the end is drawing nigh.

Terrified as the storm causes destruction across your city, all hope seems lost.

Suddenly, there’s a light. Not the electric blue light caused by the lightning. No, this light is different, warm; and it’s growing increasingly bright with each passing second.

It’s the garage!

Although still a bit frightened, you know you’ve made it to the safety of your home. I guess you’ll live to see age four after all.

Recently, a pastor I know gave an anecdote much like this one on a Sunday morning. His toddler, though safe in the car, was terrified by a July thunderstorm.

Looking out of the windows at powerful storms can certainly be intimidating, even as adults. So often, the cause of fear is due to our focus!

Like our young friend in the story, we tend to focus on the danger and not the shelter. We see the things that frighten us and they pull our focus away from that which protects us. We look at the storm that scares us, not the vehicle that protects us.

Peter did the same thing.

Seeing Jesus, Peter steps out of the boat and walks across the water toward Jesus. Peter allows his focus to shift from Jesus to the storm; from refuge to wreckage.

And how often do we do the same exact thing? We know we can take refuge in Jesus, as the Psalmist writes: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

And yet all too often, we are like that toddler. We become so focused on the storm, that we forget the shelter that keeps us safe!

There’s so much, good and bad, that demands our focus everyday. Today, remember that our charge is to keep our eyes on Jesus, no matter what comes our way.

He is our shelter.

Today, will you keep your focus on Jesus, despite your circumstance?

Today’s author, Brandon Loftis, is the blog manager for Short Daily Devotions. He lives in Bismarck, North Dakota with his lovely wife Sambrea. Brandon runs the ND service department for a thriving construction company in the midwest, Rapid Fire Protection, Inc.