This week we noticed how God comes to us when we are facing fear and anxiety. God speaks to us personally, and if we trust God,
we will be guided to make good decisions. We have noticed, too, that there may be times God, out of love, needs to be more forceful to stop us from harming ourselves. We have been encouraged to meet God in prayer each day so that together, we may recognise God at work in our lives.
It feels as if the last Scripture reflection we share this week brings us full circle in our noticing.
Remember that
Jesus sent his disciples across the lake and then went off to spend time alone with the Father. The disciples, nearing the other side of the lake, experienced a large storm and were fearful. Jesus returned to them, saw their difficulty and came to help them. No matter how you wish to interpret the story of Jesus walking on the water, the essence of the story remains the same: Jesus meets us within the storms of our lives. He invites us to take courage from his presence with us and invites us to
come to him. If we are able to focus on Jesus, we will overcome our turmoil, but if we keep focusing on our turmoil, we will flounder. This is what prayer does, it enables us to focus on Jesus. Prayer does not change Jesus. Prayer brings us into Jesus' presence.
How do you cope in the midst of the storms in your life? Is your focus on the storm or on Jesus?
Do you hear Jesus' invitation to “Take courage”?
Can you readily step out onto the water with Jesus?
Reflections by Cherie-Lynn van der Merwe
