Water Can Be a Rock

There once lived a man who came from a broken past, he lived in a broken house, from a broken family, he had broken ways, and had broken things. He once left this brokenness in pursuit of something whole. But like many of us who come from brokenness, he had a difficult time casting it off. He had made some great friends and been a great friend to many other broken people. But one day, their paths led them apart in different directions. The man started to see his broken ways returning. Despite an immense personal effort, and many cries for help, he could not cast off his Brokenness. Then, one day, something happened, and it briefly looked to him as though there was no way to cast off this brokenness, and as if this brokenness would sink him. He looked up to Heaven, and said, “Lord, forgive me for my doubt, but how can I give you to others if I can’t even live for you myself? Perhaps you should use someone else. If people are hungry, send them to someone who can feed them.” The Lord answered him “they do not need to go somewhere else. You feed them.” “But Father,” cried the man, “all I have is brokenness, I have nothing to give!” Answered the Father “Bring this brokenness here to me.” Then the Father took the brokenness, and fashioned into something capable of feeding more people than anyone could have imagined.

There was once another man who worried, who lived in a boat in a stormy sea. He worried about life, about his future, about a job, about money, about finding love, about keeping it, about school, about friends, about time…..about everything. But in the midst of this storm, a voice called out of the rain and wind. “Come to me.” Seeing no other way, and recognizing the voice as his Father’s the man took a step off of the boat. He followed the voice. But he looked around and he saw waves, he saw debt, he saw fear, he saw doubt. He began reaching for things off of the boat to put into his pockets, to plan for his future, to plan for security. But the more he put in his pocket, the heavier he became, and he began to sink. Quickly he called out to the voice, and his Father reached his hand out and saved him. “why did you doubt?” asked his Father.

Well, not the most exciting stories, but true stories

Two more great stories that we all know come from Matthew 14:13. Starting there are two stories we’re all familiar with. First, Jesus feeds the five thousand Then Jesus and Peter walk on water. When the disciples doubted that they could feed the five thousand with only a few loaves and a few fish, Jesus told them “bring them here to me.” After bringing the problem, bringing were they fell short, to Jesus, the problem became food for thousands of people, that falling short became excess. While walking on water, Peter began to doubt and sink. After taking Peter’s hand, Jesus asked him “You of little faith….Why did you doubt?”

Jesus did not tell the disciples to send the five thousand away because they only have five fish and five pieces of bread. Jesus did not tell Peter, “it’s ok, I understand why you doubted, it’s the human thing to do, there was so much to worry about, so many dangers.” Jesus expected Peter to make it, and he wanted Peter to trust him and have faith enough to do it. He not only expected it, he wanted it, he told Peter to come. After he failed, Jesus called him “you of little faith.”

Peter was called to have Faith, he was called to walk on water, but only through faith. We are called to have this same faith. It means that no matter how high the waves, don’t doubt, trust in our Father, and have confidence that you go to meet him wherever you go.
Faced with the most tangible, real, and catastrophic of problems, Faith will get us through. Just have faith. Imagine, like Peter, you are actually in a sea where there is actually a storm and there are actually big waves and rain, lightening, thunder. Imagine, now, that you’ve stepped off your boat and are relying totally on faith. You are, in fact, standing on water. DOH!!! Faith could have gotten Peter through. If faith could have gotten Peter through that, than it can get us through anything. If faith can turn five loaves of bread into enough for Five thousand, than Faith can get us through today, no matter what, and it will get us through tomorrow. Not only will it get us though, but it will do it miraculously, and abundantly.