Christ is at the center pulling to keep you on the course he set you on. Although we will encounter storms, he is the force that keeps you on course even when so much is trying to pull you away and out of his world. Too often we begin to lose faith on our journey because we are thinking or focusing on the small things. We internalize what is happening around us, therefore allowing the storms to swallow us up. We begin to believe there is no way out of a situation because we cannot connect our lives to a greater purpose. We cannot connect our next steps, our goals, and dreams to something outside of something other than us. We see our dreams, goals, and vision as our own, therefore, we struggle connecting the dots to make things work. When storms come, we lose hope, we lose faith, struggling to stay afloat because we failed to see and understand that the original dream and vision was given to us by one who has a greater plan that goes beyond just you or me. These dreams and visions are given to aid us to be a blessing to others and in our obedience to the One who gave them to us, we shall be blessed. When challenges come along the journey, if we stay in alignment with the plan He has for us, we can rest assured that we will still find peace along the way. No matter the challenges you face that seem overwhelming or unbearable along your journey, know that Christ is there pulling you through because His saving and preserving you is greater than just you; for if you are overtaken then so is the mission and people attached to your calling and purpose.
Think about a dream, vision, plan, or goal you had and started with. It was awesome and you started off running with it. Much like the disciples who decided to blindly follow Christ, you took off, being pulled deeper into this new world. As we are pulled deeper into this world, we see, learn, and experience many great and interesting things, much like the original disciples.
Knowledge increases. Understanding increases.
In many ways, we find out that we are able to do things we did not think we could do as we are stretched out of our comfort zones. We are learning more about ourselves as we are also learning more about God. Such an amazing journey and our love for him can only continue to increase as he connects us with new people, expanding our communities and we witness his power. Life is good. You know he is with you on this journey. Following this vision or dream was not a mistake and you know you need not worry. Then it happens.
Your day turns to night. It is getting cold and the wind is picking up as the storm begins to move in. The waves around you are picking up and becoming more and more violent by the hour. Moments ago, it was smooth sailing. What happened?
Why is life crashing around you now? Why has this journey gotten so tough for you? It’s now at your doorstep. Where is Christ now? He is the one who called you then sent you out here knowing the storm was destined to come.
Then you try to remember all the others you watched succeed and there is your glimpse of hope. You even try to step out on what others have tried to do, hoping that will work.
Suddenly…what’s that?
You take notice of the storm again, rather than understanding stepping out on faith and understanding the purpose of promise of the vision that was given to you. With that, you begin to sink. Pulled down, off course by the force of the violent waves. Will you drown in the sea of trouble?
In Matthew 14:22-33 Christ sends his disciples across the Sea of Galilee without Him. This would be the disciples’ first voyage across the sea without him since they began their journey with Him. Over time, the disciples have witnessed his power and continued to build their trust and faith in Him, but this voyage would truly put their faith to test. Would they trust what they knew before they met and began walking with Him, now understanding the greatness that lies within them to accomplish what He sent them to accomplish?
See, before taking this voyage, the disciples had seen Jesus provide the needs of so many others. They witnessed him heal the sick, cast out demons, and just before being commanded to set sail across the Sea of Galilee (and meet him on the other side), they witnessed Jesus feed 5000 men, plus women and children with just then 2 fish and 5 loaves (of bread).
WOW! They have witnessed strength, compassion, power, and much more and Jesus has taken care of the needs of so many thus far.
Now, he is sending them on this voyage…this journey and wait…he wants them to go “alone?” This is not right. They probably second-guessed that decision. Why? Because the Sea of Galilee was known for its treacherous storms.
See, the Sea of Galilee is a low lying lake/body of water, surrounded by mountainous areas (more like AZ mountains but mountains nonetheless). As air would flow inland passing over the hot basin the lake lies within, whirlwinds would form. These vortices, also called irresistible forces, would draw everything into it that surrounds it.
Could you imagine the thoughts that may have been going through their minds? It could be similar to thoughts we have sometimes when we are stretched more and more along our journey.
When life hits us hard, we lose all sense of what to do and how to do it. We start grasping at everything and anything to hang on it, thus getting overwhelmed in a sea of storms that end up overtaking us. You feel uneasy as if you are unsure of how you are going to manage.
The winds of life start picking up and the waves feel like they are crashing around you, making you feel unsteady. Whether it is your health or that of a family member, death of family/friends/mentors/leaders, challenges of a job, finances, balancing family life, trying to be there for family. Many of us have been there, some of us are here now, and a few of us are praying we don’t end up here and that’s ok.
See, the disciples were afraid and when they saw Christ on the water, they thought he was a ghost. Unable to see clearly, unable to distinguish who he was.
When the vortices of life come trying to pull us off course, with all the faith, we may have, sometimes, we may become unsure what to do or how we are going to make it if we are going to make it.
But even when we can’t see clearly and being pulled every which way, Christ is still that centripetal force, keeping us on the right path.
He calls out in all of your uncertainty reassuring you that he is there as we are like Peter, who must regain focus.
Remember when Peter started his journey (as a fisherman) called by Christ, he followed as Christ promised to make him a fisher of men. When Christ asked his disciples, who do they say I am, Peter was the one who identified him as the Christ. Now in the midst of the storm, Peter is unable to correctly identified that it is Christ out on the water. It doesn’t matter what he has seen or experienced during his journey with Christ, in the moment where he is experiencing chaos, he can no longer see Christ before him.
In Peter’s vision, the storms are greater than Christ, therefore impairing his vision. He and the other disciples are more focused on the volatile waves that were crashing against the boat, thinking this would overtake them and sink the ship, leading them to their death.
When Christ calls Peter to come forth, reassuring him that it is He is Lord. Peter steps out of the boat with the waves and wind that once overpowered them, pulling them in every direction now, UNDER his feet, as he walked upon them as if he was walking on solid ground, all while he was focused. He had faith. Faith in who he was, not just as he saw himself but as Christ saw him. He was not just a fisherman, but he was called to be a fisher of men. There was a greater purpose on his life, after all, disciple Peter would become commissioned as Apostle Peter the first leader of the early Church.
BUT when Peter stopped focusing on Christ and noticed the forces trying to pull him in another direction, that is when he began to sink. He felt like he was losing control. Much like we get when we get overwhelmed but as soon as he began to sink, Christ reached out his hand and caught him.
What does this have to do with Centripetal Force?
Well, it is simple: See, Centripetal Force is a force that makes a body follow a curved path. It is the relationship between a central object and the object orbiting around it. The force that keeps an object circling its center.
As it relates you to:
This vision, dream, plan, and goal you have was not given to you by chance. This was given by God. As Christ has called you to move forward in this next step, he is at the center, guiding you and leading you on this path.
On this journey, there are complex obstacles, challenges, forces, or vortices that come along trying to pull us off course.
But in understanding Matthew 14:22-33, we can learn 2 things:
We should try to stay focused on Christ and where he is calling us to. For he has called us to this journey and we have seen him provide. So, have Faith!
We are not perfect, so there are times when we cannot help but lose focus because of what is happening around or to us. But if and when that does, we can know that Christ is there, in the center, as the centripetal force, pulling to keep us on course. As he did with Peter, he will not allow us to get overtaken or swept away, drowning in the storms. WHY?
Because he called us, just like he promised the original disciples, his word still stands…he will be with you always. So, remember, Christ is the centripetal force, he is at the center pulling to keep you on the course he laid for you. He will get you through the storms and challenges because the world is waiting on you.
