You’re not stuck
Think about the worst times in your life.
Not the objectively worst times in your life. Comparing who had it worse is waste of time (not to mention a subtle form of pride).
What I want you to think about is personal. The specific facts aren’t that important. This is about your personal experience.
This is about when life punches down. On you. The times in life that are the worst. Because they hit you the hardest.
For most of us, the times in life that hit the hardest are the ones where we get lost in them. Where you and I get focused on whatever it is we’re dealing with. Whatever we’re trying to get through.
Truth be told, there is no situation in life that we cannot make worse for ourselves by focusing on it. To the point that we get lost in it.
But it’s hard not to do that. Especially when it’s something that we’ve told ourselves “I can’t” about.
Which is exactly what we see in today’s Gospel. With Peter stepping out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus.
Focused on Jesus, Peter starts off doing what Jesus asks him to do. And for a moment, Peter is actually doing it.
Then Peter reminds himself, “I can’t do this.” Everything falls apart. And Jesus has to save Peter.
What happened?
Peter quit focusing on Jesus. Peter quit filling his heart with Jesus and His simple command, “Come.”
Peter started focusing on the wind and the waves. Peter started filling his heart with “I can’t.”
The whole time Peter was focused on Jesus? The whole time Peter was walking on the water? The wind and the waves were still there.
It doesn’t say, “and the sea became calm when Peter stepped out of the boat.”
Peter was dealing with them as he walked towards Jesus on the water. He wasn’t ignoring them. But he wasn’t focused on them.
But when Peter stops focusing on Jesus, and gets lost in what he’s dealing with? That’s when it all falls apart.
So here’s the roadmap. And the choice.
Deal with what you need to deal with – and it may be hard stuff, stuff you’ve told yourself “I can’t” about. But keep your focus on Jesus. And Jesus will see you through.
Or, make it worse. By taking your focus off Jesus. By filling yourself with “I can’t.” Focusing on whatever you’re dealing with, to the point that you get lost in it.
But know this – even if you do take your eyes off Jesus? Even if you do fill yourself with “I can’t?” You’re not stuck.
Jesus will be waiting to pull you out of it, just like He did with Peter. All you have to do is ask.
Today’s Readings
