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Can life’s storms actually be blessings in disguise? Join me as we unravel this intriguing concept by diving into the heart of Matthew 14, where Jesus displays compassion amidst profound personal grief. We explore how life’s unpredictable challenges can reveal divine power and encourage steadfast faith. Through personal stories and biblical reflections, we uncover the importance of seeking God’s presence even when the path seems unclear, and how maintaining faith can transform trials into profound spiritual growth opportunities.

You’ll hear about my own eye-opening experience during a sudden storm on Lake Mead, where parallels with Peter’s moment of doubt offer lessons in trust and security. By examining the incredible story of Jesus walking on water and Peter’s faith journey, we highlight how fear and doubt can make us sink, but keeping our eyes on Jesus can lead us to do the impossible. We delve into the miraculous acts of Jesus and how faith and obedience can help us overcome life’s storms, encouraging listeners to embrace their faith boldly.

As we navigate societal challenges like economic instability, we draw on insights from biblical scriptures and my book to offer practical guidance on finding strength and assurance in faith over material wealth. Even when storms are daunting, there is a divine power that supports us, as illustrated in Peter’s call for help and Jesus’ immediate response. Together, we reflect on how our trials are not just obstacles to overcome but are crucial steps in our spiritual journey, urging us to embrace them as opportunities for growth and deeper understanding of our God-given mission.

Where to dive in:

(0:00:00) – Navigating Storms of Obedience (9 Minutes)

This chapter explores the experience of following God’s call, only to encounter unexpected storms, and questions why these challenges arise even when obeying divine guidance. Drawing from Matthew 14, we examine Jesus’ retreat to a desolate place following John the Baptist’s death and the persistence of the crowds who follow him, seeking healing and answers. I share a personal story to illustrate the message and emphasize the importance of understanding how such storms can reveal God’s power. We reflect on Jesus’ compassion and the faith-driven urgency of the people who pursued him, highlighting how Jesus always prioritized compassion over his own agenda. Through this narrative, I aim to encourage listeners to persist in their faith journey, even when faced with trials, by seeking God’s presence and understanding his plans.

(0:09:27) – Facing Fear in Stormy Waters (9 Minutes)

This chapter reflects on a powerful biblical passage where Jesus calms the storm, highlighting the significance of faith and trust in difficult circumstances. I recount a personal experience on Lake Mead, drawing parallels between Peter’s moment of doubt while walking on water and my own reactions during a sudden storm on a family houseboat trip. The narrative illustrates the importance of being anchored and secure amidst life’s unpredictable challenges. Through this reflection, I emphasize the relevance of applying scriptural truths to our lives, urging listeners to consider how faith can guide us through our own storms.

(0:18:31) – Walking on Water (15 Minutes)

This chapter takes us through a personal journey of faith and fear, recounting a past experience where I found myself completely out of my comfort zone during a terrifying storm. Despite having witnessed God’s miracles before, I struggled to maintain my faith in the midst of chaos. Through this story, I relate the feelings of fear and doubt that many of us experience in life’s storms, drawing a parallel to the biblical account of Jesus walking on water after feeding the 5,000. We explore how, in times of distress, it can be difficult to recognize Jesus in our midst, but there is a place of faith in Christ where we can rise above the turmoil. By reflecting on these moments, I aim to encourage us to find hope and reassurance in our faith, even when the storms seem overwhelming.

(0:33:53) – Walking Into the Storm With Faith (12 Minutes)

This chapter explores the spiritual lessons drawn from biblical scriptures, particularly focusing on Job 9:8 and Psalm 89:9, to address current societal challenges such as economic instability and global conflicts. Emphasizing the power of faith over material wealth, I share insights from my book available on Amazon, offering practical guidance on seeking divine intervention. Through an analysis of Jesus’ miraculous acts, such as walking on water and calming storms, we highlight the importance of faith and obedience in overcoming life’s storms. By examining Jesus’ interactions with his disciples, especially Peter’s moment of doubt, we reflect on the significance of trusting in divine power, even when faced with daunting challenges. The chapter encourages listeners not to fear life’s storms, but to find strength and assurance in their faith.

(0:45:31) – Walking on Water (4 Minutes)

This chapter examines the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and highlights how the miracle unfolded through the hands of the disciples, emphasizing the power of faith and obedience to Jesus’ commands. We reflect on Peter’s experience of walking on water, showcasing the incredible possibilities when keeping one’s eyes on Jesus. However, the moment Peter allowed fear and doubt to take over by focusing on the storm, he began to sink, teaching us about the importance of maintaining faith amidst challenges. We also discuss how Peter’s call for help and Jesus’ immediate response exemplify the grace and support available when we cry out to Jesus in times of need. Ultimately, we explore the idea that maintaining focus on Jesus allows us to navigate life’s storms and achieve the seemingly impossible.

(0:50:15) – Walking in Faith Through Storms (14 Minutes)

This chapter encourages listeners to embrace their faith, even amidst life’s storms, by reflecting on the biblical story of Peter walking on water with Jesus. We explore the idea that the Lord will never let us drown when we walk by faith, even if fear causes momentary lapses. Through the example of Peter, who was still able to accomplish great things despite his doubts, we learn that God’s purpose for us remains unchanged. By examining how the disciples grew in their understanding of Jesus’ power and their own potential, we recognize that our trials are opportunities for spiritual growth. We also highlight how Jesus uses illustrated sermons to teach us about faith and the divine power within us, encouraging us to walk with confidence in our God-given mission, knowing that storms cannot thwart what God has planned.

About your host: Jaime Luce’s testimony has daunting personal mountains and treacherous financial valleys. She was trapped in day-to-day stress and couldn’t see a way forward. But how she started is not how she finished! And she wants you to know God has a plan for your life too, no matter how tough it seems. Today, Jaime has been married to the love of her life for almost three decades, owns two companies, and has become an author and podcaster. God’s way is always the blessed way!

Connect:

– Website: https://jaimeluce.com

– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaime.luces.page

– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaime_luce/

– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-luce-00395691/

Full Transcript

This transcript is auto-generated and not perfect. We hope it blesses you.

0:00:00 – Jaime Luce
Welcome to the Jamie Luce Podcast. Thanks so much for joining me today. I’m going to be reading today out of the book of Matthew, so I want you to get your Bibles out, get something to write with. Let’s take some notes today. I wanted to ask you if you have ever thought about this, because I have thought of this many times.

I’ve probably complained to the Lord about this, if I’m honest in my prayers, but complaints in my prayers. I know that’s probably not right and that probably doesn’t sound very faith-filled, but I think you’ll relate to what I’m going to say. But have you ever obeyed the Lord? Felt like the Lord spoke to you to do something. You did that thing that he asked you to do and in the doing of that thing, a storm arises, a storm hits and you think how is this possible? How can this be? Why does a storm come up seemingly every time? I do what the Lord asks me to do? And the thing about a storm when it comes up and it’s unexpected, you think, okay, did I hear wrong? Did I not? Somehow did I do it wrong? Am I not you know? Was it God at all? Am I just you know at all? Am I just you know, we question so many things when storms arise and the power of a storm in our life has the power to either. It either rocks us or it can rock us, but then it can reveal God’s power, and I really want to talk about that today. I think that this will be an encouragement to you, something that some of you probably need to hear today. The start of a new year doesn’t necessarily mean that whatever we were dealing with before just went away because there’s a new year. So I want to encourage you today and I really do believe that this word will encourage you.

I wanted to kind of start by explaining or telling you a little bit about an experience that I had. Just that gave me insight into what we’re going to be looking at today. So I want to read the passage to you, then I’m going to give you a little bit of a personal story and then we’ll delve into some teaching about it. But if you’ll open your Bibles to Matthew, chapter 14, and just for context, this is right after John the Baptist has been killed and the word gets to Jesus that he’s been beheaded and Jesus goes into the wilderness because he wants to be alone for one, he probably is wanting to pray, and you know, I don’t know, I’m reading into this, I could be wrong. This is not gospel truth. This is Jamie’s opinion. I’m just trying to think of my own self in this situation. I try to put myself in the story and think what would I be thinking? What would be going on? And we don’t know if Jesus is also going because he thinks, okay, they came after John, I could be next and it’s not my time, so I need to get out of here. I don’t know, but for whatever reason, jesus has pulled himself away. What’s interesting is he’s trying to get away.

So the text says that now, when Jesus heard this this is Matthew 14, verse 13. Now, when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. So he gets in a boat. I want you to think about this. He gets in a boat and goes to get away to a deserted, desolate place, and yet the people listen to this. But when the crowds heard it, they heard that he got in a boat and that he took off. They followed him on foot from the towns. Okay, so he’s in a boat. Assuming that getting there in a boat is quicker than walking there. They follow him on foot. And it says in verse 14, when he went ashore, he saw a great crowd. They moved so fast that they got there on foot before Jesus got there on boat. So when he gets out of the boat, here’s a crowd waiting for him.

Okay, if you’re Jesus, well, if you’re not Jesus, I should say as a human, I’m thinking to myself, I’m trying to get some space. If you happen to have been a mother of small children, your escape into the bathroom could be followed by pounding on the door and screams and yelling for you to let them in. You kind of get the picture. Yelling for you to let them in. You kind of get the picture. He’s needing to process this with the Father. When I say process, I simply mean talk to God about what’s next.

John the Baptist is now gone. This is obviously a turning point in the ministry of Jesus, because we know that John said he must increase, I must decrease. So this is an increasing time. He has now decreased. He’s gone. Those who follow John are now going to turn and follow Jesus, or at least we would assume so, because John was pointing them to Jesus. So Jesus is moving forward. It’s not his time to be done, but it is his time to excel, his time to be made more manifest. This is the growth time, this is more time, this is more expansion. And the people have followed him.

Because why, why would you go on foot at such a pace to beat somebody where they’re going? The only answer is you have great need and your faith says that if you can get to him, you can get the answer that you need that this person, you need to get to this person and they did everything they could to get into his presence, to be able to bring to him their needs. And I love the next verse because it says and he had compassion on them and healed them. Jesus was always moved, no matter what the agenda was, no matter what was going on. Compassion always moved him. And no matter where you’re at today, no matter what you’re facing today, jesus knows If you’re, if you’re listening to this. This is one of the ways that we run after him. I do it. I go looking for what is he saying, I get in my word, or I’m praying, or I pick up a phone and I’m looking at YouTube and I’m and I’m, you know, or listening to a podcast or I’m reading a book about the Lord, I’m looking for him. I’m looking for him so that I can make contact with him. Why? So that I can receive the benefits of knowing who he is and what’s possible if I get to him. Okay, and so this is.

This isn’t our text today, but this is leading up to it. This is the text, the portion of text where Jesus then, by his disciples, feeds the 5,000. And we’ll talk about that a little bit later. But right after feeding the 5,000, we come to verse 22. So he just finishes feeding them, says and those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children. Verse 22,.

This is our text today. Immediately, immediately, he’s finished feeding them, he’s had compassion, he’s done the job that needed to get done at that moment, immediately, he made the disciples get into a boat. He made the disciples get into a boat. Okay, so Jesus is commanding them to do something. He made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray, by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat, by this time was a long way from land beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night, which is about three o’clock in the morning sorry, I lost my place and in the fourth watch of the night he came to them walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified and said it is a ghost and they cried out in fear.

But immediately and I’m going to pause there for a moment because when I was preparing to record this today and I was just rereading the text again and re-wanting to just to take it in, to be really truly prepared and reading this text again today, I really did as I read this particular line. Um, I really did as I read this particular line. Take heart, it is I do not be afraid. I felt the Holy Spirit prompt and say that somebody today who’s listening to this needs to hear that and you just need to know for your circumstance. We’ll go on, we’ll do the teaching, but you just need to know and receive these words. Take heart, it is, I Do not be afraid. And Peter answered him Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said come.

So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried out Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him oh you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased and those in the boat worshiped him, saying you are the son of God. We’ll read the rest of that a little bit later, but I don’t know if you’ve ever.

You know I say this to you kind of regularly that you really, when you’re reading scripture, you should do your best to put yourself into the story. Don’t just read it for the sake of reading and skim over it, but think about what the scripture is, the picture that it’s painting and the story that it is telling, or the truth that it is exposing. If there’s a question being asked, why is that question being asked and what does that have to do with me? And how do I make this scripture that I’m reading? How do I make this apply to my life today? And as I was thinking about this and here they are, it’s in the evening, it’s dark, it’s late, the wind is beating on the boat. The winds are beating on the boat, but that also means that the waves are crashing, the water is spraying, um, and it’s not like they’re in a yacht where they go down below and they’re not getting wet and they’ve got a motor. I mean, these men are in the elements and they are fighting these elements. And it reminded me I’ve had an experience, a couple experiences actually, very much like this One in particular, and I have to say I didn’t react in faith, I really didn’t, and so I really related with Peter in this instance.

But our family for years would go on vacations on a houseboat trip, and it’s a big houseboat, there was a lot of us, so we would get the very largest boat possible for all of us and we had at the time, um, a ski boat that we could ski behind and we had a couple of um sea dues, you know to, to wave runners, whatever you would call them, um, just to play around on. And we’d take the week and just kind of escape to a deserted place, cause we’d go to the desert, we’d go to Lake Mead and that was our time away, that was our refreshing time. So I do understand why Jesus would go to the wilderness to get away. We would do the same thing and there were times if you’ve ever been on a lake, and especially a lake where sudden storms can pop up, because they were constantly dealing with that on the Sea of Galilee a sudden storm would pop up, and Lake Mead is very much like that, especially if you’re going in the months that we would normally go during the summertime.

There’s monsoon season and you can get caught in a crazy storm out of nowhere. And you can get caught in a crazy storm out of nowhere and it’s a very particular thing when you have to anchor your houseboat at night. They give you these long ropes that you have to anchor to the shore and they are attached at the back of the boat and the front of your boat is up at the shore. And you go straight out in the back of the boat and the front of your boat is up at the shore and you go straight out in the back. The boat is out there. So you’ve got these long ropes that come and you have to fasten them into the ground and you crisscross these stakes that are, you know, four feet long into the sand, into the ground. So there’s only a little bit left on top of the ground and you have to do a particular way to tie them off so that your boat is secure and it needs to be secure. And the more exposed you are out to the openness of the water, the better you better be anchored. It’s the safest places to get into what they call a cove, so that you are protected from the wind on both sides by some type of mountain or hill that will take some of that wind and help keep you braced in the storm.

And we happened to be out there and a horrible windstorm kicked up. Horrible windstorm kicked up, and that particular day my husband was right in the middle of, he was taking vacation time, though he was going every day with his computer to the marina because he was working. We were getting ready and following what the Lord was calling us to do and that was to buy the company that my husband at the time had worked for. And in doing this there was a lot of preparation and a lot of stuff. He was in the middle of negotiations with and people he was working with to, to go on what they call the roadshow. He was preparing their book was what they call it a book of all the information necessary that you do and you present to these different investors in order to raise the funds to be able to make this purchase. And we had gone he and I by ourselves, took the ski boat in the afternoon and we had gone to the marina and we were sitting.

He was doing some work and I was getting really nervous because I knew it was getting late and I didn’t want to be out on that water once the sun went down, because when you’re out in the middle of the lake without the benefit of daylight, you may or may not see things that are in the water that are shallow enough to harm you. You could hit things that you don’t see. It’s dark, I mean it gets dark out there and it’s not like you see lights. You’re not in the city, you’re away from the city, you don’t see. It gets very dark and though there are stars above you, it’s not enough to light the water so that you can see what’s going on in the water, and the light that we had on our boat, for whatever reason, wasn’t coming on. So I knew that when we were at the marina and he needed to get done what he had to get done. So it was getting later and later.

The sun was going down and I kept saying you know, probably irritating him while he’s trying to focus and work, and I and I’m concerned about it’s getting later we need to go, we need to go, we need to get back on the boat and he, of course, is the risk taker. He, you know, I’m a risk taker too, but he’s more of a risk taker than I am, and it was about this deal and it was about getting this done, and we knew that God had called us to do this. There was, it was part of the mission, and so he took the extra time. Needless to say, it got dark and we are heading back and literally our boat is okay. To make things worse, the wind is beating on our little boat trying to get back to the larger boat. I can’t see, and, on top of it, us not being able to see. Something goes wrong in our motor and, instead of being able to go at a decent speed so that we can beat the sun going completely down, this made it so that we could, only we were basically just putting along. We had no speed and you can’t fix it. It’s dark, you can’t see what’s wrong, you can’t figure out what’s happening and on top of that, joel’s not really a mechanic, especially on boats.

So we were in, you know, I was completely out of my comfort zone, to say the least. I was freaked out. I was afraid I was showing no faith at all. Instead of understanding, the Lord has told us to do this business venture. We know that he’s got us. We actually knew he was with us on our vacation. I was taking no comfort in what I knew about God. I was taking no comfort in the past miracles and things that he had done for us, the miracles he had done. Even up to this point, I was not focused on what I knew God had done, what he could do and how much faith I needed to have. Right now.

I was in the middle of a storm and it was scary, and the wind is crashing literally on our boat and I can’t see and I’m terrified of the rocks and the things that are around us and I don’t know if we’re going to any second hit up against them and put a hole in our boat. All I could think of was that we’re going to sink. We’re going to hit something. We’re going to sink and have no help and we’ll be clinging to a rock all night long and cold in the water and have no way to get help. I mean, that’s literally dramatic, I know. But if you’ve ever been in situations that scare you, it was scary and my husband, I know, was frightened by it, but he didn’t show that outwardly to me and I was not making it easy on him. I am complaining, I am upset. I did not behave well. Later I had to truly ask for forgiveness because I was not behaving well. Now this was many years ago. I really hope that I have truly grown since then. But I’m being honest with you to tell you where I was at.

And, needless to say, if my mom, who is a prayer warrior, she was terrified for us. She knew they aren’t back yet. This isn’t good, and she was out at the front of the boat, kind of like a Noah moment. The storm is raging and she’s out there with her hands raised and she is trying to. You know, she’s praying and she’s rebuking the storm and she’s asking the Lord to bring us back safely. And when we come around, we’re going straight. I don’t know where to turn because I’m hoping I can see. I see a little light and I said I think that’s them. I see a light Boy that’ll preach too. Right, I see a light, so we start turning and then, after going a little while, we realized that is them and if we stay and keep that light in the center, we could see where the boat was at, we’d be okay and we’d be able to get on, get anchored and be all right, be safe from the storm.

We did make it back and I I just again I want to say that it was. It was a storm I didn’t expect. It was a storm that really was terrifying to me, truly terrifying. I felt like our safety was very much in danger and and I’m telling you that because I want you to know I relate and I’m sure you can, even though yours might not have been in a boat on the water. I’m sure you’ve been through situations where you’re terrified and it doesn’t matter that you’ve seen God do things before. Somehow those things are not coming to mind at the moment. We can lose our footing in our faith and I’m not wanting to beat you up today.

I want to encourage you because here we literally see this happening. I mean, this is happening within hours of Jesus feeding the 5,000. Within a very short amount of time, a miraculous miracle on a huge scale has just taken place in front of their very eyes. Also, in fact, they were a part of it, and we’ll talk about that a little bit later. They were part of that miracle, but in that situation, when the storm arose, somehow that wasn’t on their mind, there was no memory, no thinking about the power of God available to them, and so I just want to encourage you with that first. Okay, so that’s first. That’s my story. I’m sticking to it, but I want to be able to help you, to see yourself in this.

So the storm was so bad and the storm was. It was so dark outside and they were so beaten by the wind and the waves that when Jesus comes walking on the water, they don’t recognize him. They don’t, they can’t see that that’s Jesus in the midst of their storm. They can’t see that that’s Jesus who is not affected by the storm, who’s walking on the storm, walking on these waves, not affected by them. And in their, in their fear and in the work that they’re having to do because, if you’re think about this. They went out.

It’s evening they have been doing this now for several hours and a storm comes up. It’s three in the morning. They are exhausted, they’re tired, they can’t see, they are beaten by the waves, they’re wet, they don’t know, other than they’re trying to get. You know, not only stay with water, not in the boat so that they are drowned by the water, but they’re trying to make progress. They’re trying to get to the other side. They were commanded by Jesus to go there, and so there are just so much that you can find yourself in this circumstance in. But it is in this very place that we can see that they did not. They didn’t recognize Jesus in their storm.

And I really want us to think about that, because you can be in that same place, you can be in that same mindset, because there is a place in Christ, there is a place of faith in Christ, where you too can walk on the storm and not be affected by it. And I’m wanting to encourage us in our faith today to say, if we can stop and analyze for a moment, that we’re in the storm and we can look around us and recognize, yeah, things are bad, but my hope today is to pull you back. Let’s pull out our perspective. Let’s pull out a little bit and let’s remember what God has done for us and where he has shown himself strong. Let’s remember the things that he’s commanded us to do. And if you’re walking right now in obedience to what he commanded you to do, then you don’t have to be afraid of this storm. This is a storm you can walk on. If Jesus commanded you to go where you’re going and to do what you’re doing, then you can know that you’re going to be okay. So Jesus sees and knows the situation that you’re in right now. I mean, he commanded you to go. He knows, he’s not surprised by where you’re at. He’s. He walks to you in your, in the midst of this storm, and it’s.

It can be um, it can be something that is obvious to the Lord, obviously, obviously not obvious to us that there is a problem. How do I say this when it is a natural thing to come to, let’s say you, you have a sickness and it’s a natural thing to go to the doctor and to get help from the doctor. That’s a natural thing, it’s a natural way, it’s a natural course. There’s nothing wrong with that. The men were rowing the boat. The only way to get the boat to the other side is to row the boat.

When you’re in a problem, it’s not a lack of faith to be doing the natural things. So I don’t want to discourage you and make you think everything is supernatural and that if you’re not doing something in the supernatural that somehow you’re doing it wrong. I just don’t want us to lose sight that, yes, we can be doing what God’s told us in the natural, but there is a higher perspective to walk that natural out. Okay, so Jesus sees and knows the situation that you’re in, but it is obviously not a problem to him. Right? It’s not a problem for Jesus. He’s not um, in his power, in his ability. He is not bound by what we think is impossible. He simply does the impossible. The impossible is possible with him. It’s not like he’s. There is no such thing as impossible with God.

I don’t know if you’re understanding what I’m trying to say here. There are, we live in the realm, the natural realm, where there is this impossible, and then we know that with God, outside of our little realm, there’s this impossible. But what we’re forgetting is that if we have Christ and Christ is in us, christ has called us, christ has commissioned us. He’s, he’s um, he’s given the command. We belong to him and we’re walking in obedience. We are now no longer bound to the natural. We’re now walking that whole scenario of obedience in Christ and we’re walking it out in the not impossible realm. Do you see what I’m saying? It’s we now live that circumstance, can live. This is where we have to adjust our faith and adjust our mindset that we do not have to do this from the natural point of view. We can do this by the supernatural point of view. It changes how you see it, it changes how you feel it.

Um, I want to read this note that I wrote down, cause I don’t want to get ahead of myself, and I and I want to give you everything that I felt that the Holy Spirit gave me to give to you today. But Jesus, well, let’s read the scripture. Let’s look at what is happening here. Let’s go to verse 26. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said it is a ghost. So, again, they’re not recognizing Jesus. We’ve stated that they haven’t recognized him.

They know they’re seeing something. Okay, they recognize they’re seeing something, but what they see is bringing terror and fear into their hearts because they think that what they’re seeing is more trouble. And you can be following what the Lord has told you to do. Let’s say he tells you to say something to somebody and when you say that thing to somebody, their reaction is not what you expect and it doesn’t go the way that you expected it to go. And yet you know the Lord told you to say it. So if it goes not the way that you expect, your fear then is that this is bad, this is worse, that the problem is now worse, and so I know that’s a different analogy.

But they think it’s a ghost. They see Jesus and think it’s a ghost. They think this is worse. This is death out there looming. This is no longer just a storm and we’re in trouble, but death is looming and this is worse than what we thought. Okay, I guess that’s what I’m trying to say, and let’s look at what Jesus says the minute. They say that they think it’s a ghost and they cry out in fear verse 27,. But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying take heart, it is. I Do not be afraid. And I wanted to give this to you because I felt like the Holy Spirit said this to me. In other words, jesus was saying wait, wait, wait. This isn’t bad news, this is good news. I’m not a ghost, I’m Jesus. Okay, this isn’t bad. I know this looks bad, this isn’t bad. I commanded you. If you’re doing what I commanded you, you’re going to be okay. This is not bad, this is okay.

We really struggle with this because we like to say we really struggle with this, because we like to say or the critics of Christianity like to say well, if God is so good, why do bad things happen to good people? Well, sometimes we’re judging that thing before it’s completed. Okay, we’re judging the thing before it’s completed, and by doing that, you’re calling something that is good evil. And scripture teaches us do not call good evil or evil good. And you can’t know unless you are literally asking the Lord and following his command. So if I’m following his command and whatever is happening is happening by my following his commands, that is not bad. I need to recognize Jesus. That’s not bad. He’s saying this is good, I’m here, okay. And when he’s saying it’s, it’s me. In other words, he’s saying all is well, you don’t have to be afraid, I’m the one who does the miracles, I’m the one who commanded you, I’m right here, don’t be afraid. Okay, and it you know. A better translation might be to say that he says take heart, I am. He’s the, I am Whatever you need. He says I am Whatever you need, I am. He says I am whatever you need, I am whatever isn’t there, whatever is not possible, I am. He’s saying don’t be afraid, I am.

And I wanted to show you this part of what these men would have known, because they would have been taught the scriptures. And I’m going to give you a couple of scriptures. First one is in Job, and it’s Job, chapter nine, verse eight. And this is in Job’s reply that he’s giving, and it says and I’ll read you the whole thing, but I’m getting you to a certain scripture. Then Job answered and said truly, I know that this is so, but how can a man be in the right before God? So he’s going back and forth with Bildad and they’re having this argument, verse three if one wished to contend with him, meaning God, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. He is wise in heart. This is where we want to go. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and succeeded. He who removes mountains, and they know it not when he overturns them in his anger.

It’s a playbook for miraculous provision, and I want to share it with you because it solves the problem we are all facing right now. The economy is going crazy, gas prices are soaring, there’s wars and rumors of wars. We’ve got everything hitting us all at once, with interest rates rising. You need to know what to do, and so many times we think we need the money, but you don’t need money. I’m telling you, the answer is you need God, and that’s exactly what we want to teach you through this book. We’ll give you practical ways to know what to do and how to do it, so that you get answers now. You can find my book on Amazon. You can also go to jamielucecom. You can also find this book at youdon’tneedmoneyyoujustne need Godcom. This book is available today.

Shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble. Talk about earthquakes, moving mountains. Who commands the sun and it does not rise. Who seals up the stars? Who seals up the stars? Who, alone and here’s the verse I wanted to give you, verse eight who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea. So he is the Lord over the sea, he is the Lord over the storm. He’s the one who created them, who moves them.

And then I want us to look at Psalm chapter 89, verse 9. It says you rule the raging of the sea. When its waves rise, you still them. I mean, I feel like this verse literally is speaking about the passage in Matthew, which it’s also in the other gospel. But this was beautiful to me, that this is the way that God is establishing in their hearts.

He’s trying to show them by the miracles that he does. Everything he did was intentional. He’s saying there is no storm, there is no thing that you will face that I have not got the power over. I crush the waves with my feet. I walk on these storms. They are stilled by me. I can make them come, I can make them go. I have power over them.

So obviously, jesus is allowing something in these passages. He is allowing something in this storm. This has not taken Jesus by surprise. What is he wanting to show his disciples? What is he wanting them to understand in this situation? What is he wanting you to understand while you’re in the midst of whatever storm you might be facing?

Now? I’m not saying that Jesus brought the storm. I’m simply saying he’s Lord over the storm. I’m not saying that God took you into whatever you’re dealing with, but I’m saying he’s not surprised by it and he’s Lord over it. God commands us to go and in the going, our protection is in our obedience, so you don’t have to fear the storm.

Notice that Jesus didn’t tell them with instructions that he’s going to come to them and that they’re going to avoid a storm. Because, isn’t it true? We try to live our lives avoiding storms. We don’t want to deal with the storms. We don’t want, we’re afraid of them. We really do believe that they have more power than we have the power to combat. We’ve got to not fear the storm. I’m talking to me too, folks. We cannot fear the storm, and I want you to notice what Jesus did to them here. He is the one commanding them to the storm, and when he gets to them and tells them not to be afraid, there is this interesting dynamic that takes place. Jesus and Peter have this exchange, and so let’s look at that exchange.

Peter in verse 28, it says and Peter answered him Lord, if it is, you, command me to come to you on the water. He said. Jesus said come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind he was afraid and beginning to sink. He cried out Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him oh you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat the wind ceased. Okay. So notice what Jesus does here. He does not come on to the scene calming the storm as he came. He doesn’t come. And they see him coming and notice that it’s Jesus, because now the wind has stopped and the storm has subsided and you can just see that that’s Jesus walking to you.

They would not have expected that this was Jesus. They had never seen him walk on water. They saw him do miracles, but they never saw him defy science, defy the elements. He commanded the elements before them. So this is not the same passage that we read earlier in Matthew. I believe it’s five. I’m sorry, matthew 8.

In Matthew 8, 23 to 27, it’s when Jesus is in the boat with them and a storm arises and he’s asleep while the storm is coming and they’re terrified again of the storm and they say do you not care that we’re dying? And they wake him up. That’s a different passage. So this is now. Jesus has come. He has shown them already he can command the wind and waves. But this is different. Jesus is showing him I not only command the wind and the waves, none of these things have any effect on me. I so control them that I can walk on what is terrifying you. I have all power, in every sense and form of the word, to walk on this circumstance.

And Jesus, in this exchange with Peter, actually invites Peter into the storm, into the tumult, out of the safety what little safety he had. He invites him out of that little safety of the boat and the other men to come out into the wind and the waves without that protection and to walk by faith to Jesus. And the Lord might be asking that of you today. He might be inviting you into the storm. He might be inviting you into the storm. You could be akin to the three Hebrew boys. You’ve been invited into the storm to stand for what he tells you to stand for, to speak what he tells you to speak. And in so doing, you know that means you’re going right into the fire. Know that means you’re going right into the fire.

Our country right now, the United States, is in a terrible place. It is in such a fast speed, moral decline and they call evil good and good evil and the deception that is going on and the corruption of all those in power is mind-boggling, and God is calling us, many of us, to stand up and not be afraid and to speak truth and to, in essence, invite us into the storm, invite us into the tumult to say what you know is controversial, but it’s Bible and it’s truth and it’s the only way that saves. What was Jesus doing with Peter? Inviting him into the situation so that he could see that he actually could walk on it too, that this was to grow Peter’s faith. He invites us into the tumult, into the storm, into the craziness, and he invites us to do it unafraid, because it is I, I am. He’s calling us. He’s calling us. Don’t be afraid, hear the command of your Savior, hear the invitation that he’s giving to your heart. It’s that that you want to follow, because that is where your safety lies, and Peter bless his heart. I mean, we like to criticize him, we like to criticize these men and we remember that literally hours ago, they were doing a miracle. I really this has always puzzled me when I would read that Peter would say well, if it’s you, lord, call me to you. That seems like such a strange thing to say, because if you think it’s a ghost, you’re going to trust that the voice you hear is God and he’s telling you yeah, come on out into the storm. Doesn’t that sound crazy? I mean, to me that sounds crazy. And yet Peter was in that faith moment when Jesus said don’t be afraid it’s me, said, don’t be afraid it’s me, and in that moment of hearing his voice, Peter is remembering. I think he’s remembering. This is what my mind thinks. My mind thinks that, okay, peter’s remembering.

Jesus didn’t just feed the 5,000 a few hours ago, because it wasn’t actually Jesus who fed the people. What happened in that story? The disciples bring to Jesus this few pieces of bread and fish and tell him this is all we have. We can’t possibly do this. And Jesus says that’s all right. He takes it, he blesses it and gives it back to the. He breaks it and gives it to the disciples. Okay, so he’s broken this bread and given it back to them, but now they have to take this broken piece of bread that they’ve got in their hand. And now they have to go to the groups that are sitting in groups of 50 and however they had situated everybody, and now they have to break that off and be feeding everybody with that.

The miracle happened folks in the hands of the disciples. Jesus blessed it, yes, but he commissioned the disciples to feed the people. He commanded them from the get-go. He said you feed them, we don’t need to send them away, you feed them. Jesus didn’t do the miracle by his hand, he used the disciples. The miracle happened in the disciples’ hands. And Peter’s remembering this. And so he says Lord, okay, if you can do miracles with me too, then that impossible thing you’re doing, I can do that too. You’ve invited, invite me, invite me into the realm of the impossible. And Jesus is inviting Peter. He says come on, it’s me, don’t be afraid, come on, come on out into this impossible thing. Let me show you how to do this. And Peter did it. He did it. He walked on water. He defied gravity, he defied the elements. He did the impossible. He was walking in the realm of the supernatural. He walked on water at Jesus’ command.

The problem came when and we all know this. The problem comes when we take our eyes off Jesus, when we take our eyes off of the command Jesus gave us, when we look at the elements against us, when we get our focus on the person who’s complaining or the circumstance that now seems impossible, or the money’s not there, or this person is now causing trouble and they’re standing against you, they’re making an obstacle for you. There’s a mountain in front of you now. That wasn’t there and you don’t know how to get over the mountain. And instead of keeping our eyes on, jesus said this is what I’m supposed to do, this is the command he gave me, so that’s what I’m going to do. Instead of keeping our mind and our heart there, we let our mind go to the elements. We take our eyes off Jesus and we put our eyes on the elements.

And what did the scripture say? Eyes on the elements. And what did the scripture say? But when he saw the wind, he was afraid. So he was in a position, just a moment ago, of the supernatural, with no fear. Jesus said don’t be afraid. So he wasn’t afraid and he did what Jesus told him, and he was doing it. But then he looked at the wind and he was afraid and beginning to sink. We will all sink if we take our eyes off Jesus. We will all sink if we forget what he has told us. If we turn loose and lay hold of instead the thing that’s against us, we will all sink.

And yet Peter did the right thing. He cried out to Jesus to save him. It’s just that simple. I mean it’s that simple. Cry out to the right thing. He cried out to Jesus to save him. It’s just that simple. I mean it’s that simple. Cry out to Jesus right now. Put your eyes back on him. Cry out to Jesus. If you feel like you’re sinking in your circumstance, cry out to Jesus. Get your eyes back on what he told you. Remember that you were called out into that supernatural and he will keep you there. He will help you there.

And it says immediately, jesus reached out his hand and pulled him up and they walked back together. I mean we don’t see those words. But they said that Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying oh you, a little faith, why did you doubt? And when they came, got into the boat. So they walked the rest of the way back on the water into the boat. Peter did it. There was a momentary lapse of faith, but Peter did it. He didn’t drown. It wasn’t a ghost, it was God. And they made it. And as soon as they got back into that boat, that wind ceased. That storm had to go.

Where do I want to go from here? This is what I wanted to say. I highlighted this for myself and when the Holy Spirit spoke this into my heart, I could hardly wait to say this to you. It’s not profound, it’s just a truth, and I want you to write it down because this will bring encouragement to you. The Lord will never let you drown when you’re walking by faith. You’re walking by faith. The Lord will never let you drown walking on your storm. If you’re walking by faith, he won’t let you drown just because, while you’re doing the impossible, you become afraid. He isn’t disappointed with you and he’s not changed his mind because of that moment. He’s not saying okay, now you blew it, you’re disqualified, I’m not going to finish the thing that I called you to. You’re not going to get to the other side. That’s not what we saw.

Peter continued, he got back up.

He still was with Jesus.

He walked on water and walked back to the boat. The issue of his lapse, his momentary lapse of faith, did not change God’s mind about what God was doing in Peter. We don’t have to fear this. We know Peter knew who Jesus was, but he was growing in his understanding of what does that even mean? You’re the Christ, you’re the son of the living God, but what does that really mean? How powerful are you? How big are you? How possible is the impossible?

Peter was still growing in this and God will not allow you to drown. You will still complete the thing that he’s called you to do. He is allowing you in this circumstance and in your storm. He’s allowing you the opportunity to learn to grow in your faith. He’s allowing you the opportunity to learn to grow in your faith. He’s calling you higher, he’s calling you deeper, he’s calling you farther than you’ve ever been into that realm. He has saved Peter immediately and it reminds him about faith. And when the wind is pushing you and the spray of the waves is hitting you, you can know that Jesus said oh you of little faith. Wait a minute. Oh you of little faith. You mean to tell me that a little bit of faith. He’s talking to Peter. Listen to this. Oh you of little faith. Peter just walked on water. Peter just got out of the boat and walked on water and Jesus says oh, you of little faith. So if that little bit of faith could cause Peter to be able to walk on water, jesus is saying can you imagine what you could do with great faith? Can you imagine what’s possible if you have great faith? I want us to look at what this did in the disciples. I want us to look at what this did in the disciples when, in Matthew 8, I told you we’d go back there when Jesus was in their boat, but asleep, and they said don’t you care that we’re dying? Jesus said why are you afraid? Oh, you of little faith. And then he calmed the wind and waves by speaking to them and the disciples said in fact, let’s look at that.

Matthew saying what sort of man is this that even winds and sea obey him? So just a few chapters before. I don’t know what that actual timeframe is, but in that first storm, peter knows who Jesus is. The disciples believe that he’s the son of the living God. They know he’s Messiah, but they’re not sure what that means. Okay, so they’re still growing in their faith and their knowledge of who God is and how powerful he is. Jesus is. And they say who is? What sort of man? Is this Okay? And now they see him walking on water. He’s not. He’s not just commanding the wind and waves to cease, he’s now walking on water and when the wind stops and the storm has ceased and Jesus and Peter get back into the boat. This is now the growth that has taken place, by allowing them to go through the storm and see what Jesus did To example for them, that they could walk through the storm, and see what Jesus did to, to example for them that they could walk on the storm, to, to show them how this can be done, to teach Peter that this can be done, what he was teaching the disciples by doing this.

We see in the verse um. Oh, I go back. I’m on chapter eight, go back to 14. Oh, you have little faith. Why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased and those in the boat look at the difference. What sort of man is this? That he can do this? And now, look, they worshiped him, saying truly, you are the son of God. Their storm and walking through that storm, the way that Jesus showed them the the um. Oh, what do they call that in church when they teach you and they give you the example? They show you with actual things. I’m totally drawing a blank.

An illustrated sermon. There we go, jesus gives us an illustrated sermon, basically walking on the storm that they were terrified by and showing them that they could also walk on that storm. He’s showing them who he is and the power that he has, but he’s also showing them who they are to be, who they are to be. Do you see the difference? Do you see the growth in their faith and in what they understand about their calling? And into the mission and into the storm that he calls them, it won’t be long before he says that I send you out amongst wolves. You are sheep being sent out amongst wolves. He invites us into the storm, but we don’t have to walk in this storm or deal with the storm as mere humans. We can go in the power of God and this storm cannot stop what God has purposed us to do and you will not drown in this storm. Just for the sake of showing you this, because in the storm they did not recognize Jesus, I wanted to finish off this chapter.

So verse 34 says and when they had crossed over, they came to the land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized him, when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment, and as many as touched it were made well. I want to finish this today by saying that if your storm is a physical, you need physical healing in your body. I’m going to pray for you that you have faith today, that you’re going to walk on this storm and know that the impossible is not impossible in Jesus and that he invites us into the storm but he’s with us in this storm and the impossible is possible. That if you recognize him, if you can hear this little message today and recognize that Jesus is here with you, then you can recognize that the impossible is now possible. And just as all the men of this region recognized him and brought him there sick and they knew that if all they could do is just touch the fringe of his garment they would be healed and they were healed Then you can know you can do the same. We’re going to reach out by faith and touch the Lord.

Today Can I pray with you, father? We’re so grateful for your word, the truth of your word, the power of your word, and you are the same yesterday, today and forever. And with simple faith, today we’re going to say we recognize you, we recognize that you’re right here with us and we might had a momentary lapse of faith, and we’re crying out to you saying Jesus, save us and for those who need saving today, those who need healing today or those who need a miracle today, we are reaching out for your salvation and we are going to walk on this storm with you and the impossible is made possible. Father, I thank you for healing right now, being dispersed by you, by your love for your people and the compassion that you always had on them, and that they will reach out today by faith and receive from you the help that they need, that you are still their loving father. You’re still their loving Jesus. You’ve not left them, you’ve not forsaken them. You are here. Fear not, it is I, fear not it is I. Lord, you are always with us. You have promised never to leave us and never to forsake us. You have not changed your mind and we receive by faith today your touch, your healing, your mountain moving power, your ability to walk on the impossible. And we will walk it with you. And we will do it with our eyes fixed on you and your word on your commands. And it’s in Jesus name we pray Amen, oops, amen, amen. Well, thank you so much for joining me today and spending this time. I encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus. What seems impossible is not impossible with the Lord that we serve. He has conquered death, hell and the grave, and there is nothing that is impossible with him. There’s nothing impossible to those that believe, and I agree today with you. I count it my privilege to stand in agreement with you for the impossible for your life. Thanks again for joining me today.

If you’ll do me a great favor, you can do this ministry a favor by liking, sharing, subscribing. Visit me on my website. I’d love to hear from you. If you have been touched by this message or if you have received a miracle, I want to know about it. You can send me an email at mail at jamielucecom. That’s J-A-I-M-E-L-U-C-E. I look forward to hearing from you. I’ve got lots for you on the website for you to take. I look forward to hearing from you. I’ve got lots for you on the website for you to take advantage of. You can also get a hold of my book.

Listen, if you’re dealing with a financial struggle right now and you’re wondering how to walk that out by faith and you’re wondering how to deal with the circumstances you’re in, I co-authored a book with my mother. We share with you the stories that we lived by applying God’s principles and taking us through impossible financial situations and showing you what he had us do. It’s basically how we read this story today and we get to see what Peter did. You get to see what we did. It’s our illustrated sermons of how we took what the Lord was leading us to in the commands he was leading us to in scripture and the mindset he wanted us to have, and how we watched God do the totally impossible and provided for every need we ever had. He has blessed us above and beyond what we could ever have thought or imagined, and if you want that kind of help, you need that kind of intervention in your finances. I encourage you to get a hold of that book.

I don’t say that to sell books. I really don’t care. I didn’t do it for me. The Lord told me to do it and I’m not making a ton of money off these books. I’m doing this to be a servant, to serve the body of Christ and to give you the tools necessary for you to grow in your faith and to do what we talked about today, and to walk on that storm and you will see God do the miraculous in your life. I encourage you to get that. You can do that either on Amazon or you can go website and get it there. I’ve also got on there. If you want to sign up and get on the mailing list, you can get a free chapter of that book. That’s a beautiful story of redemption as well. So again, it was my pleasure to be with you today. We’ll see you next time. Bye-bye.