Getting through Life's Obstacles

Conquering the Winds

I could not believe the week that I had been having. Every time I turned around, another obstacle was thrown in my path. It began with funeral of a friend, and sped out of control from there -- an argument with my husband, an unperformed contract, a defective septic system. I was handling things fine for a while, but as the days went on, the problems kept piling up -- broken A/C, dead computer, cold dryer, trouble with my teen. Eventually my stress level went on overload, and I could feel myself being rocked in the storms raging around me.

Overwhelmed, over-stressed, and out of the energy, I took a couple of steps backwards and tried to regroup my emotions and priorities. I could not understand why God was allowing all these troubles into my life at the same time. One at a time, I could handle, but all at once?

As I searched for the strength to go on, I expected God’s help to come in the form of a huge billboard, an obvious sign along the road: “CALL MR. COOL TO FIX A/C.” However, His answer came in a roundabout way through the words of a friend. “All week long,” she said during a phone conversation, “I’ve been picturing Jesus walking on the water.”

I tried to grasp that picture in my mind, but each time I focused on Jesus, the picture changed to poor Peter being swept under the waves. Her words played over and over in my mind, so I went to the book of Matthew (14:22-33) for a deeper study.

Jesus had sent the disciples on ahead in their boat, crossing the Sea of Galilee from Bethsaida toward Gennesaret. The boat was a “considerable distance from land” -- 3 ½ miles according to John 6:19 (NIV) – when the disciples encountered strong winds and rough waters. Jesus saw their struggles from the shore and started walking out to them. When they saw this man atop the waters, they were frightened. Jesus spoke. “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matt. 14:27, NIV). Peter then got out of the boat and began his walk across the waters towards Him.

Suddenly the wind arose, and Peter’s focus was diverted from Jesus. “When he saw the wind, he was afraid, and as he began to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” As Jesus reached down to rescue Peter, he replied, “O, ye of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:30-31, NIV).

Were the problems I was having a testing of my faith? I started looking at my circumstances in another perspective. These “winds” were causing my focus to change from my reliance of faith and trust in Christ, to relying in my own ability and strength to fix things. How easy it is to be distracted from my daily dependence on Jesus.

Immediately, as Jesus climbed into the boat, the winds calmed (Matt. 14:32, NIV). The disciples were safe. Their focus had changed from the problem to the controller, and my answers came from them.

As I changed my focus from the obstacles in my life back to Jesus, the One who calms the winds, I was released from the stress of trying to do it all in my own strength. The priorities just seemed to fall into place. I did the things I could do, and waited for God’s guidance on the things I did not know how to deal with. The solutions came with abundant results.

The men showed up -- unexpectedly -- to fulfill their contract. The septic system was fixed with no further problems. A friend’s cousin came one night to repair the A/C for the cost of only the parts. The computer and the dryer were fixed at no cost since -- unknown to me -- they both were still under a parts warranty. And the accusations against my teenager were proven false.

How often I wish life was a peaceful journey. Each day flowing contently into the next. No hassles. No obstacles. No winds. Keeping my focus on Jesus would be easy with no diversions. If only life were like that.

But it’s not. We are assured of troubles (John 16:33) – distractions, busyness, obstacles, and unseen trials.

As I traveled this season of little diversions, I saw how easy it was to be distracted by the winds that enter my life. One thing breaks, one misunderstood word, and I am sinking in the water, crying out like Peter for Jesus to reach down and save me.

“O ye of little faith.

My stresses come when I take my eyes off Jesus and start seeing all the problems. Only by a constant focus on Jesus am I able to dispel those winds and walk on top of the waters of life instead of sinking beneath them.

© 1999 Caryn Burdine