To Walk In Faith… Matthew 14:28-31 (NIV)
One foot trembles, as it taps on the water.
The drops wet my skin, and I’m scared I will falter.
I stand on the boat, as it sways back and forth…
To the rhythm of the waves…
In the sun-drenched haze.
“Come.” You say.
“Lord, how?” I pray.
“Believe!” You cry.
“I’m trying!” I lie.
I stare out at the others
Splashing in the sea,
Desperately doubting
I see parts of me.
“What if I fall?”
I question again.
“Trust in my power.”
He reached out his hand.
“I’d much rather trust you,
Onshore where it’s safe,”
“But My way is best.
For your own sake.”
“I know, I know…
But it’s easier here.
Could you just come closer?
I must feel you near.”
“Oh child, dear child,
Such faith you lack!”
“I’m sorry, so sorry.
I’ll turn the boat back.”
“Please don’t do that.
This way is my plan.
Just take those first steps,
You’ll see who I Am.”
I shake and I shiver,
I know what to do.
“But I fear that the wind
Might blind me from you.”
“Your eyes stay on ME.
That is the key.
Stop frantically fretting
So anxiously.
Stop waiting and wondering
And worrying how.
Your battle is over
I’ve got you now.
Take that first step and
Reach out to me
Stop trying so hard
Don’t look at the sea!”
“Come.” You say.
“Come walk to me.”
I splatter and crash
Into waves that I pass.
The wind blinds my eyes
But I know they are lies.
One step at a time,
I don’t lose His gaze
My eyes fixed on Him
In the Sun-drenched haze.
***
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Aw, beautiful and truly inspirational this Sunday morning. Hugs Chris and thank you for sharing 😉
Thank you sweet friend, for reading it!!1 XOXO
Lovely poem, gorgeous reminder, beautiful you. xxoo my friend.
Also FRIST!?!?!?!
I believe you were second to…. *drumroll* JANINE!! She’s a ninja that one. LOL 🙂
Hi Chris! I LOVE the line “Don’t look at the sea!” I am facing new challenges in trying to launch a speaking ministry. I am very concerned that what I have to say isn’t important, won’t make an impact, blah, blah, blah. But you know, ‘don’t look at the sea’ just wraps it up for me.
Look to the Lord in His mercy. Not the roiling emotions below.
This was perfect for me today. Thank you so much.
Ceil
Ceil!! You would be SUCH a gifted speaker and encourager for women!! Oh, I truly believe that. God will prepare you for what He calls you to do! Eyes on Him, girl. Cling to his faith IN YOU. He wouldn’t open up this passion and opportunity, if He didn’t believe you would be a great helper of His. Trust that. Trust Him. <3
Chris,
did you write that?
Marvelous.
Inspiring.
Beautiful. ( as you are. )
thank you. xxx
PS. that is the kind of FAITH I desire every single day.
I did write it, lovey. I’m SO SO glad you like it!! I was up late one night wrestling with God on something that was really stressing me out. This came from that… <3
I desire this kind of faith every single day too, despite how hard it can be at times!
This is a WONDERFUL. BEAUTIFUL. poem Chris. I LOVE it!
We all wish to come and cross the Sea without thinking something bad might take us by surprise. Have Faith. It can be tough at times.
Stay blessed.
xoxo
Thank you, Marie. Yes! HAVE FAITH. This is how it looks, sometimes when I wrestle with it. <3
Oh Chris. So beautiful – you took my breath away!
Thank you, Allie. So so much, my friend. <3 This one's special to me...
Have you ever thought about writing a devotional? I think your writing would be perfect for it! I’d buy it. 🙂
Oh Katy, really? You are too kind!! I have thought about it, but good LORD there ARE SO MANY already out there. But if YOU’D BUY IT? Maybe I’ll look into it. 🙂
To the rhythm of the waves…
In the sun drenched haze.
Now, that’s a gorgeous image. I said those two lines a dozen times over. Couldn’t help myself. I have them memorized now:) It’s going to be my happy place now. So many beautiful, important reminders throughout your poetry and in those cherished biblical verses. Just stunning.
*still tears* LOL I suppose I’m an emotional soul… but really- you bring them out of my eyes often, Julie. Thank you for that. For always seeing through my words straight to my heart. You are SO good at that. This one is incredibly special to me, as I was wrestling late at night with God on surrendering something I wanted so desperately to control, make right, manipulate, fix. Instead, I rambled on and kept fussing and fretting over letting go and giving it ALL TO HIM. I had to write it out… <3 It helped. After that, I went to bed and slept well. 🙂
This is beautiful..one of my favorite verses, the most difficult to follow, to trust we can walk on water..and your poem speaks to this with such vulnerability, such yearning, such hope and fear, and yet such trust in Him who we are to walk toward. Stunning, stunning!!!!
You’re making me tear up, Kathy!! I am always so incredibly honored, when you YOU like something I wrote. Truly. Thank you, precious friend. SO very much. (I was really in this place, one late night- and had to get it out. <3 )
I absolutely love this. Very beautiful. I would love to link it up with my Happy Friday picture this week. Hope you continue taking these steps of creativity, teaching His way with poems.
Oh Lynn!! I meant to get back to you before I left for the weekend, and I failed. I am so sorry!! Please feel free to link it up to your next Happy Friday, if you are still interested, my friend! <3 I'm so grateful you like it. It truly reflects that struggle, doesn't it? It felt good to write it out. 🙂
Chrissy, you wrote this? I LOVE it!
Yes Ma’am!!! 🙂 I was up late wrestling with God on letting go of something that I really REALLY struggled to let go of… so I wrote this to settle it in my soul. <3
Beautiful. Inspiring. I am about to proceed on a new venture, and I think myself… and our entire group could really use this to uplift our Faith that God will go before us, and beside us!
I feel like I should declare 2016 as the year of Jumping Out of The Boat!! 🙂
LOVE IT Leslie!!! “Jumping Out of the Boat”! 🙂 I’m so glad you liked this one, my friend. It reflects my walk during those times I really wrestle with God.
WOW this is so good. “I’m trying,” I lie. <— so much truth in this line for me. xo
Me too, girl. Me TOO. I’m so so glad you came over to read this one. I think it’s my favorite portrayal of my own struggle to walk in faith. I tap my foot in that water often… but don’t take those steps, until I wrestle with God over and over again.
Oh my sweet friend, this is one of my absolute favorites of yours. So beautiful, Chris! This: “Your eyes stay on ME. That is the key. Stop frantically fretting So anxiously.” Best advice ever. Keeping our eyes on Him is the key and it’s also where I usually go under :). My focus seems to shift to worry far too often. XO!
ME TOO, Candace! I was up late wrestling with God on something that was making me an ANXIOUS MESS. I decided I WILL let it go and completely surrender it to God… I went to the computer and painted this word picture of my struggle because I just had to do something tangible with my profession of faith to Him, despite my fits in the battle! This was what came out. I really do love it too. It happens OFTEN. Thank GOD He is so patient and gracious with us!
This was beautifully written, and sacred, and I can picture it illustrated. It is such a relevant rendition of a Bible story I grew up hearing, but the poem helped me personalize in a whole new way.
Oh Ashley, thank you so much for reading it and diving into these words and this story in such a personal way. I was up late wrestling with God and this came out… <3 Your description was exactly what I was going for. It is a timeless story for us all. <3
What a beautiful post, Chris. I’ve found myself having the same sort of struggle. We’re stubborn sometimes, aren’t we? But He’s got our backs. Love you, my dear.
Aw Jennifer! I just love that you get this struggle, and you are so right- He’s got our backs, that gracious and patient God that He is! I’m so glad for that. <3 I love you too, and miss you! Hope we can catch up SOON! XOXO
This is just beautiful! I love it!
THANK YOU, my beautiful friend. <3
Wonderful reminder to not let our gaze stray from our God!
Love it!
Oh thank you so much for reading this one, dear friend! XOXO