![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Wind-damage.jpg\" "\\"Wind")
<\/a>There is some wind damage on our property. The winds cleared the deck of items that have never blown off and we have had some high winds before. And then there is a portion of the fence that landed in our neighbor\u2019s yard.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
My husband waited for our neighbor to get home from work before temporarily fixing the issue. It was dark, cold, and the snow began before they fixed it to their satisfaction.<\/p>\n
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I am reminded of the section of Scripture when Jesus walked across the water to meet His disciples Matthew 14:22-33). Among the disciples were seasoned fishermen and they had been sent by Jesus to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus retreated to the mountains by Himself to pray.<\/p>\n
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While Jesus was praying on the mountainside, the disciples were battling wind and waves in the middle of the lake.<\/p>\n
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In Matthew 14:25 (NIV), the story gets interesting. \u201cDuring the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the middle of this raging storm, Jesus walked to the disciples, who were a considerable distance from the shore. The disciples were terrified and cried out in fear. Not of the wind and waves, but of the \u201cghost\u201d walking toward them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But then Jesus spoke, telling them who He was and not to be afraid. Peter questioned that this was really Jesus. Why didn\u2019t Peter recognize Jesus\u2019 voice? Didn\u2019t Peter just leave a miraculous event and had heard Jesus speak? Peter had been with Jesus for quite a while at this point and he still didn\u2019t recognize His Master\u2019s voice?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Peter asked Jesus to prove who He was. He wanted evidence that this person was who He said He was. It\u2019s no wonder Peter received these striking words from Jesus. \u201cYou of little faith, why did you doubt?\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 14:31 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We may not be so different from Peter. In the midst of wind and waves in our lives, perhaps we question if Jesus is really speaking to us. Perhaps we question if He is really with us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So what can we learn from this passage of Scripture? Let\u2019s look at a few points.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lesson #1<\/p>\n Recognize the voice of your Master. If we are in God\u2019s Word, we will hear Jesus\u2019 voice. We come to know and recognize His voice. Get into the Bible. Read it daily. Know for certain when you hear Jesus\u2019 voice that you will recognize it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lesson #2<\/p>\n We can believe that Jesus is with us. If we look to Jesus\u2019 words, we find that He is with us. Later in the Book of Matthew, Jesus reassured His disciples (and us), that He would be with them. \u201cAnd surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 28:20b \u2013 NIV) We have His word. Jesus is with us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lesson #3<\/p>\n There is no reason to doubt. Yes, Jesus is with us at all times, but there is no reason to doubt that He is with us through the difficulties of our lives. Regardless of what winds and waves we experience, Jesus is with us. He will show up in our most distressing times, but we must be looking for Him, not something or someone else.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lesson #4<\/p>\n Do not fear. Fear is crippling. Fear keeps us from doing what we need to do. With Jesus by our side, we are able to work through the wind and waves and press on to victory. Remember what happened to Peter because of his fear? He began to sink. We will too if we do not look to Jesus for His presence, strength, and guidance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n