TURNING FEAR INTO CONFIDENCE
Matthew 14:22-33
Rev. Paul Wrightman August 29, 2021
AFTER AN INTENSE TIME OF HEALING MANY WHO WERE ILL,
AND SEVERAL MORE RUN-INS WITH THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES
OVER HIS HEALING ON THE SABBATH,
JESUS IS READY FOR A BREAK.
ACTING VERY MUCH AS IF HE IS SETTING THE STAGE
FOR A FURTHER REVELATION OF HIMSELF TO HIS DISCIPLES,
JESUS SENDS THEM SAILING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE,
WHILE HE CLIMBS ONE OF THE STEEP HILLS
SURROUNDING THE SEA OF GALILEE
TO HAVE SOME TIME ALONE WITH GOD IN PRAYER.
THE DISCIPLES, MEANWHILE, WERE MAKING SCANT PROGRESS
GETTING TO THE OPPOSITE SHORE
BECAUSE THE WIND AND THE WAVES WERE AGAINST THEM.
WANTING TO REVEAL ANOTHER DIMENSION OF WHO HE IS
TO HIS DISCIPLES, IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING
JESUS WALKS TO THEM ON THE WATER.
THINKING THAT THEY ARE SEEING A GHOST,
THE DISCIPLES ARE TERRIFIED.
IT IS INSTRUCTIVE TO NOTE THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME
JESUS’ FOLLOWERS ARE FROZEN WITH FEAR,
JESUS’ IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THEM
IS A VARIATION ON THE THEME OF
“TAKE HEART, IT IS I; DO NOT BE AFRAID.”
(Matthew 14:27)
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SAYINGS OF JESUS
THAT EACH OF US WOULD BE WISE TO HAVE ON HAND
TO REMIND OURSELVES OF
WHEN EVENTS IN OUR LIVES
SEEM TO BE CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL:
“TAKE HEART, IT IS I; DO NOT BE AFRAID.”
PETER, IMPETUOUS AS USUAL,
ASKS JESUS TO COMMAND HIM
TO WALK ON THE WATER TO JOIN HIM.
THE WORD “COMMAND” IS IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE IT MIRRORS THE BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING
THAT WHEN GOD COMMANDS SOMETHING TO HAPPEN,
IT SIMPLY HAPPENS.
LIKE IN THE OPENING VERSES OF GENESIS WHEN GOD COMMANDS
“LET THERE BE LIGHT” -- AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS LIGHT.
SO WHEN PETER ASKS JESUS TO COMMAND HIM
TO WALK ON THE WATER, AT THIS POINT PETER ACTUALLY TRUSTS
THAT JESUS’ COMMAND CARRIES WITH IT
THE POWER FOR HIM TO PULL THIS OFF.
AND IT DOES. JESUS COMMANDS, PETER WALKS.
AS LONG AS PETER’S SINGLE-MINDED FOCUS IS ON JESUS,
ALL GOES WELL.
BUT WHEN PETER DROPS HIS CONCENTRATION ON JESUS
AND FOCUSES ON THE STRONG WIND AND HUGE WAVES,
HE BEGINS TO GO UNDER, AND SHOUTS “LORD, SAVE ME!”
(Matthew 14:30)
AGAIN, THE WORD “IMMEDIATELY” COMES INTO PLAY:
“JESUS IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND CAUGHT HIM.”
(Matthew 14:31a)
JESUS IS NOT INTO PLAYING A GUESSING-GAME WITH PETER
AS TO WHETHER HE WILL SAVE HIM – HE REACHES OUT AT ONCE.
BUT JESUS DOES VOICE SOME DISAPPOINTMENT
AT PETER’S LACK OF TRUST:
“YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY DID YOU DOUBT?’
(Matthew 14:31b)
THE CLEAR IMPLICATION BEHIND THIS QUESTION
IS THAT IF PETER HAD CONTINUED TO FOCUS SOLELY ON JESUS,
AND NOT CAVED IN TO HIS FEAR,
HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEGUN TO SINK.
THROUGHOUT THE GOSPELS,
JESUS USES THE WORD “DOUBT” IN TWO VERY DIFFERENT SENSES.
THE FIRST SENSE SEES DOUBT AS SOMETHING POSITIVE –
IT IS QUESTIONING SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE QUESTIONED –
SUCH AS THE LIFELESS LEGALISM
OF SOME OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES.
THE SECOND WAY IN WHICH JESUS USES THE WORD “DOUBT” –
THE WAY JESUS USES THE TERM WITH PETER
IN TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING – IS NEGATIVE.
IT MEANS GIVING IN TO ONE’S FEAR
INSTEAD OF HANGING ON TO ONE’S TRUST.
IN THE PARTICULAR SITUATION DESCRIBED IN TODAY’S TEXT,
JESUS HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED
THAT HE IS TOTALLY TRUSTWORTHY.
BUT EVEN THOUGH PETER KNOWS THIS,
HE NEVERTHELESS ALLOWS HIMSELF TO CAVE IN TO HIS FEAR.
JESUS’ OBSERVATION: “YOU OF LITTLE FAITH,”
LEADS TO HIS CHALLENGING QUESTION “WHY DID YOU DOUBT?”
THAT LITTLE WORD “WHY?” SHOWS US JESUS’ SADNESS
OVER PETER’S LACK OF FAITH, AND MAKES THE POINT
THAT JESUS HAD HOPED FOR A FAITH
THAT DID NOT GIVE IN TO FEAR.
USING THIS EXPERIENCE WITH PETER
AS A TEACHING MOMENT FOR HIM – AND FOR EACH OF US AS WELL,
JESUS IS CHALLENGING ALL HIS FOLLOWERS
TO GROW IN TRUST AND FAITH.
ASKING GOD TO HELP US GROW OUR FAITH AND TRUST
IS ITSELF AN ACT OF TRUST AND FAITH.
IT MAY TAKE US AWHILE TO FULLY LEAN INTO GOD,
TO TRUST GOD COMPLETELY,
BUT TRUSTING IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE LEARNED,
SOMETHING THAT IMPROVES WITH PRACTICE.
I FIND JEANETTE STRONG’S ONSERVATIONS ON A COMMON
PARENT/CHILD EXPERIENCE TO BE QUITE HELPFUL HERE.
SHE WRITES:
“WHEN MY SON WAS A TODDLER,
WASHING HIS HAIR WAS ALWAYS A PROBLEM.
HE WOULD SIT IN THE BATTUB WHILE I PUT SHAMPOO ON HIS HAIR.
THEN, WHEN I POURED ON THE WATER TO MAKE A LATHER,
HE WOULD TIP HIS HEAD DOWN
SO THAT THE SHAMPOO RAN INTO HIS EYES,
CAUSING PAIN AND TEARS.
I EXPLAINED THAT IF HE JUST LOOKED STRAIGHT UP AT ME,
HE COULD AVOID GETTING THE SHAMPOO ON HIS FACE.
HE WOULD AGREE;
THEN, AS SOON AS I STARTED TO RINSE HIS HAIR,
HIS FEAR WOULD OVERCOME HIS TRUST,
AND HE WOULD LOOK DOWN AGAIN.
THE SHAMPOO WOULD RUN INTO HIS FACE,
AND THERE WOULD BE MORE TEARS.”
THIS LOVING MOTHER CONTINUES:
“DURING ONE OF OUR SESSIONS,
WHILE I WAS TRYING TO LIFT UP HIS HEAD AND TRUST ME,
I SUDDENLY REALIZED HOW THIS SITUATION
WAS LIKE MY RELATIONSHIP TO GOD.
I KNOW GOD IS MY FATHER, AND I’M SURE HE LOVES ME.
I BELIEVE THAT I TRUST HIM, BUT SOMETIMES,
IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION, I PANIC AND RUN MY EYES
AWAY FROM HIM.
THIS NEVER SOLVES THE PROBLEM;
I JUST BECOME MORE AFRAID
AS THE ‘SHAMPOO’ BLINDS ME.
EVEN THOUGH MY SON KNEW I LOVED HIM,
HE HAD A HARD TIME TRUSTING ME IN A PANICKY SITUATION.
I KNEW I COULD PROTECT HIM,
BUT CONVINCING HIM OF THAT WASN’T EASY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN ALL HE COULD SEE WAS WATER COMING DOWN.
HIS LACK OF TRUST HURT ME, BUT IT HURT HIM MORE.
HE WAS THE ONE WHO HAD TO SUFFER THE PAIN.
I’M SURE MY LACK OF TRUST HURTS GOD VERY MUCH,
BUT HOW MUCH MORE DOES IT HURT ME?”
JEANETTE STRONG CONCLUDES BY OBSERVING:
“OFTEN IN THE BIBLE, WE ARE TOLD TO LIFT UP
OUR HEAD TO GOD WHEN PROBLEMS COME.
HE KNOWS HOW TO PROTECT US
IF WE REMEMBER TO LISTEN TO HIM.
NOW, WHEN I FIND MYSELF IN A SITUATION
WHERE IT WOULD BE EASY TO PANIC,
I PICTURE MY SON SITTING IN THE BATHTUB,
LOOKING UP AT ME, LEARNING TO TRUST ME.
THEN I ASK GOD WHAT I SHOULD DO.
SOMETIMES THE ANSWER MAY SEEM SCARY,
BUT, ONE THING I’M SURE OF –
GOD WILL NEVER POUR SHAMPOO IN MY FACE!”
THE MOST IMPORTANT INSIGHT I GET FROM THIS ILLUSTRATION
IS THAT TRUST IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE LEARNED.
JUST AS JEANETTE’S SON LEARNED BY TRIAL-AND-ERROR
TO TRUST THAT HIS MOTHER KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING,
SO DO I – SO DO WE – LEARN BY TRAIL-AND-ERROR
TO TRUST THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT GOD IS DOING,
AND THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT GOD IS DOING
NOT JUST WITH THE WORLD’S BIG PROBLEMS,
BUT IN THE LITTLE DETAILS OF OUR PERSONAL LIVES AS WELL.
(PAUSE)
JUST AS THE WORD “DOUBT”
HAS TWO VERY DIFFERENT MEANINGS
--THE POSITIVE MEANING OF QUESTIONING
WHAT NEEDS TO BE QUESTIONED,
AND THE NEGATIVE MEANING OF NEEDLESSLY GIVING IN TO FEAR –
SO TOO DOES THE PHRASE “BECOMING LIKE A LITTLE CHILD”
LEND ITSELF TO TWO VERY DIFFERENT MEANINGS.
ON THE MINUS SIDE, WE HAVE ALL ENCOUNTERED CHILDREN
WHO SEEM TO BE FEARFUL OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
ON THE PLUS SIDE, WE HAVE ALL ENCOUNTERED CHILDREN
WHO HAVE SUCH A DEEP SENSE OF TRUST –
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS TO DO WITH TRUSTING GOD –
THAT IT TAKES OUR BREATH AWAY AND MOVES US
TO WANT TO BECOME MORE LIKE THEM.
THE FOLLOWING STORY IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS.
IT MAKES ME WONDER HOW MANY TIMES
I FAIL TO NOTICE THAT GOD IS WITH ME
SIMPLY BECAUSE I SEE THROUGH EYES OF FEAR AND ANXIETY
RATHER THAN THROUGH EYES OF TRUST AND FAITH.
KAREN REGO WRITES:
“MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON WIL ENDURED TERRIBLE LEG PAINS.
AFTER CONSULTING VARIOUS DOCTORS,
MY HUSBAND TOM AND I WERE TOLD
WIL WAS PROBABLY SUFFERING FROM ARTHRALGIA –
DIFFICULT GROWING PAINS.
WE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH HIS COMPLAINTS
AND HELP HIM BEAR THE PAIN.
BUT ONE OF THE HARDEST TIMES WE HAD
WAS DURING A TRIP TO FLORIDA.
WE WERE FLYING TO MIAMI TO ATTEND A WEDDING.
WIL AND HIS SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BROTHER MATTHEW
SAT IN WINDOW SEATS SO THEY COULD ENJOY THEIR FIRST JET RIDE.
SUDDENLY I HEARD WIL SAY TO HIS DADDY, ‘MY LEG HURTS.’
I RUBBED WIL’S LEG CONSTANTLY,
BUT HIS CRIES GREW UNTIL THEY ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE CABIN.
I HAD NEVER FELT SO HELPLESS.
GOD, BE WITH US, I PRAYED.
FINALLY WE LANDED AND WIL MADE HIS WAY
UNEASILY OUT OF THE PLANE.
THE FOLLOWING DAY WIL WAS FINE.
WE ENJOYED THE WEDDING AND A FEW DAYS OF VACATION,
THEN BOARDED THE PLANE FOR OUR FLIGHT HOME.
[WIL EXPERIENCED NO PAIN ON THE RETURN FLIGHT.]
THE NEXT SUNDAY WAS PALM SUNDAY.
DURING OUR SERVICE,
IN A REENACTMENT OF CHRIST’S ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM,
A MEMBER OF OUR CONGREGATION DRESSED AS JESUS
CAME DOWN THE AISLE.
WIL TURNED TO HIS DADDY AND ASKED, ‘IS THAT THE REAL JESUS?’
‘NO,’ TOM REPLEID, ‘JESUS IS UP IN HEAVEN.’
WIL NODDED. ‘LIKE ON THE JET?’
STARTLED, I ASKED HIM TO REPEAT WHAT HE HAD SAID.
‘THE REAL JESUS,’ HE REPLIED, ‘WAS NEXT TO ME ON THAT BIG JET.’
‘YOU SAW SOMEONE ON THE PLANE WHO LOOKED LIKE JESUS?’
I ASKED.
‘NO,’ WIL REPLIED MATTER-OF-FACTLY.
‘I SAW JESUS. OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.’
‘I TOLD JESUS MY LEG WAS HURTING,’ HE CONTINUED,
AND HE SAID, ‘NO PROBLEM. I’LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.’
THEN I TOLD JESUS I’D TAKE CARE OF HIM TOO. . .
AFTER CHURCH WIL REPEATED HIS STORY
AS IF IT HAD BEEN AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE.
‘NEXT TIME I WANT YOU AND DADDY TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW
SO YOU CAN SEE JESUS TOO,’ WIL SAID, AND THEN HE ADDED,
‘I WASN’T EVEN LOOKING FOR HIM. HE WAS JUST THERE.’”
KAREN REGO CONCLUDES:
“MY SON’S EXPERIENCE REMINDED ME
THAT WHETHER WE CAN SEE JESUS OR NOT,
WE REMAIN IN HIS LOVING EMBRACE ALWAYS.”
AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS STORY MAKES ME WONDER
HOW MANY TIMES I FAIL TO NOTICE THAT GOD IS WITH ME
SIMPLY BECAUSE I SEE THROUGH THE EYES OF FEAR AND ANXIETY
RATHER THAN THROUGH THE EYES OF TRUST AND FAITH.
IF YOU’RE LIKE ME – AND I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT YOU ARE –
THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF TIMES IN YOUR LIFE
WHEN YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE ALL ON YOUR OWN AND,
LIKE PETER IN TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING,
THOUGHT YOU WERE GROWING TO DROWN
IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.
YOU THOUGHT IT WAS ALL OVER FOR YOU – BUT IT WASN’T.
THEN, WITH THE WISDOM OF HINDSIGHT,
YOU REALIZED THAT GOD HAD BEEN WITH YOU ALL ALONG,
AND THAT GOD HAD OPENED UP
A WAY FOR YOU TO MAKE IT THROUGH.
AN AREA IN MY LIFE IN WHICH I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO GROW –
AS I’M SURE IT IS IN YOUR LIFE AS WELL –
IS TO GROW IN MY ABILITY TO SEE JESUS WITH ME
IN ALL THE SITUATIONS OF MY LIFE,
ESPECIALLY THE DIFFICULT ONES,
WHERE I AM LIKELY TO CAVE IN TO FEAR AND ANXIETY.
JESUS HAS ASKED ME OFTEN ENOUGH, “WHY DID YOU DOUBT?”,
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION
LESS AND LESS.
THE KEY, I THINK, LIES IN WHAT JESUS SAYS TO PETER
BEFORE PETER GIVES IN TO HIS FEAR:
“TAKE HEART, IT IS I; DO NOT BE AFRAID.” (Matthew 14:27)
MORE AND MORE, I’M COMING TO REALIZE
THAT WITH JESUS IN MY LIFE
THERE’S NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF.
I’M LEARNING TO SAY WITH ST. PAUL IN HIS LETTER TO THE ROMANS:
“FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE,
NOR ANGELS, NOR RULERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT,
NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR POWERS, NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH,
NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION,
WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD
IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” (Romans 8:38-39)
I’M LEARNING TO AFFIRM WITH JULIAN OF NORWICH:
“AND SO OUR GOOD LORD ANSWERED ALL THE DOUBTS
AND QUESTIONS I COULD RAISE, SAYING MOST COMFORTINGLY:
I MAY MAKE ALL THINGS WELL,
AND I CAN MAKE ALL THINGS WELL,
AND I SHALL MAKE ALL THINGS WELL,
AND YOU WILL SEE YOURSELF
THAT EVERY KIND OF THING WILL BE WELL. . .”
AMEN.