Come to the Water

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, without money and without cost.†(Is. 55)

As time moves quickly on, I find the powerful peace and joy I felt in my soul brought about by my trip to the Holy Land fading…yet it was only a month ago. Why is it that time has a way of rushing like rapids, and that I sometimes feel like I’m drowning in overwhelm and anxiety so soon after I was feeling such peace?

Walking on Water
Yet, I know it is in the times when I am still that I do find the Lord. For me, I have to force myself to be still, to remember what it felt like as I sat on a boat staring out at the tranquil aqua water of the Sea of Galilee, at rest in that moment. I also recalled thinking I am just like Peter, who was a risk taker. “Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them…When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified…But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’ Yep, I would have done the same thing I’m sure.

Not Drowning in Despair

Now, Peter could have wallowed in guilt after that, or worse yet, lost his faith and drowned in despair. But he cried out to the Lord for help and Jesus saved him from drowning in despair. Peter chose to keep working to follow Jesus, even though there would be many more times he would fall…to keep casting out his net and building the church. What a great example for me to follow. I am reminded not to wallow in worry, doubt or guilt (all forms of fear) but to keep casting out my net…doing God’s work. For me that is working one day at a time helping other writers and writing my own books God places on my heart, being with and helping family and friends, and spending time in prayer and meditation to catch my breath and feel His peace.

Lord, I pray that I come to the water, my favorite place to be with You, even if only in my mind, to find rest, peace and joy.