He Will Keep Us From Sinking

 written by Tracey Schultz Graham 4/1/15:

This morning as I was journaling my time with God, I wrote down on my index card Matthew 14:30-31.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was frightened; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

As I was writing I focused on the words "frightened" vs 30 and "immediately" vs 31. There are times I become "frightened" just like Peter, then I start to doubt and just like Peter, I begin to sink. Then I feel guilty because of "my little faith." This verse tells us that although we start out with good intentions, sometimes our faith falters. But this doesn't mean we have failed - failing would be staying in our doubt. True faith is calling out to Jesus to save us, to keep us from sinking, knowing that he's the only one who can. 

Then I focused on the word "immediately" vs 31. Jesus "immediately" answered Peter's cry for help! How awesome to know that God will "immediately" save us no matter how many times we fail him. He may not change our storm right now but he will keep us from sinking. 

Sunset over Lake Okeechobee on one of our camping trips 2021.

Negative Emotions

 And the king took an oath and said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, I Kings 1:29 

Looking back on King David's life we know that God had delivered him from much anxiety, sorrow, pain, anguish, suffering, agony, torment, heartache and heartbreak. These are many of the same emotions we all experience in life at one time or another. We can trust God as David did with all of our emotional stresses. If anyone had a right to nurse a grudge it was David towards Saul who attempted to kill him. He trusted God with his life and knew that it would only do harm to himself and God's purpose in his life.

The root of anxiety and stress in my own life is always my own lack of faith. I am constantly repenting to God for my unbelief. Sure I have blamed a million and one other things or other people but when I finally am honest with myself it is always by my own doing, my own sin, my unbelief that God has taken care of everything for me. 

I took this picture on April 15, 2008 on a walk on the beach.

Songs of Faith

Growing up in church and with parents who sang together I learned so many wonderful songs that I taught my own children. They are now passing on those beautiful songs to their own children.

Music is our way of expressing joy, good times together and worship of our God. Some times a song is a good reminder that we are being "held" in the midst of all circumstances, no matter how dark or how difficult. Through joy and sorrow a song can penetrate the soul deeply in many ways. 

The songs of faith that I grew up with are a reminder to me even today of God's goodness and love in everything. Some days when nothing else makes sense a song carries the message of hope and healing.

This picture was taken in Charleston, South Carolina when I visited in

March, 2016.