Focus Not On Your Circumstances But On Christ

Don’t Make Your Problems Bigger Than Your God

When Peter walked on water not only were the seas turbulent, but so were the times. John the Baptist had just been beheaded. Those who believed he was a prophet were distraught.  After the execution of John, the people turned to Jesus. This is how 5000 men, plus their women and children, came to be fed with five loaves of bread and two fish found among the throngs in the hands of a small child.

These were also superstitious times. Herod, who had executed John the Baptist told his attendants that Jesus was John raised from the dead; Herod attributed the miracle working power of Christ to the resurrected spirit of John the Baptist. The crowd was following Jesus because they had seen the miracles He continually performed upon those who were sick. And, as the feast of the Passover was approaching, Jesus knew this crowd of followers meant to seize Him and make Him their king; yet, it was Herod who was the ruthless Roman king of Judea and the Jews.

These were times characterized by conflict, disorder, and confusion. Times that were neither controlled nor calm, just like the seas that Peter would walk upon. The feast of the Passover was approaching, and this meant so was the crucifixion of Christ. The times of Christ were at a climatic crescendo, increasing in their intensity; and Jesus' disciples, including Peter, were surrounded by this turbulence.

It was in the midst of these difficult times that Peter, the disciple who would deny Jesus Christ three times in one night in the near future, walked upon water surrounded by stormy seas. It was Peter, with the other disciples, Christ directed to get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away and went up into the hills by Himself to pray. It was Peter, a fisherman who knew the sight of an approaching storm that would evoke stormy seas, who obediently got into the boat with the others. And, it was Peter who Jesus would reach out His hand to catch and hold as he sank in the stormy seas, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

After saying this very thing to Peter, it was the same Christ Jesus who would say to Peter in the next breath of the Bible, “You are Peter, a huge rock like Gibraltar; and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.” And the same Christ who would immediately, in the next breath of Scripture, turn away from Peter and say to him, “Get behind me, Satan! You are in my way; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men.”

I think Jesus was controversial with Peter because he was building the character and faith of Peter to be like the rock of Gibraltar. In this time nearing Jesus Christ's crucifixion on the cross at Calvary, He was preparing Peter for his God-given destiny, and that was to be the rock upon which to build His church. He was teaching Peter to keep his focus not on his circumstances, but on Him, Jesus the Christ.

When Peter kept his focus on Jesus Christ, he walked on water; when he perceived and felt the strong winds of his circumstances, he sank to the point of sure death. But, Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” And instantly, Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter. Then, they got into the boat, the wind ceased, and the boat crossed to the other side.

How does this relate to you and me? God allows us to go through bad times to bring us into something better. He allows storms to come against us to make us rock strong in our faith. Some things can only be learned in the storm; yet the storm can only take us where God allows.

So, don't focus on your circumstances, but keep your eyes focused on Christ; don't make your problems bigger than your God; don’t slip into the seas. He will calm the storms in your life, and He will take you to the other side. Turbulence is part of our destiny to get us where we are supposed to be. Don't be afraid of those seas. Stand strong!