Keep looking ahead: Is 41:8-10

"But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend, you whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts and said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' " (Isaiah 41:8-10)

Life with God does not mean life without problems. There will be times when life's storms will invade our tranquil lives, trying to unsettle our hearts and minds in Christ. God has not promised us a life of unending ease, but rather, just the opposite. "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Jesus has warned us in advance that there will be difficult days, that when they come, we should not be quickly shaken. Difficult days will come, but we must remember that God is always with us.

These verses remind me of the time when Peter walked on water. The disciples were on the sea of Galilee when a terrible storm arose. There were fearing for their life when they saw Jesus coming to the on the water. Seeing Jesus, Peter said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." (Matthew 14:28) At Jesus' command, Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water. Peter almost made it, "but seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' " (Matthew 14:30-31) Sometimes, in my own life, I am like Peter. When God first speaks to me I'm bold and confident. But when the wind begins to kick up, I quickly lose my composure and fear and anxiety take over.

The truth is that Peter was never in any danger. No mater how scary his circumstances appeared, the Lord was right there with him, to help him and to lift him up. That is how life is. Sometimes life is a walk in the park. Other times, life can be quite scary. But no mater what circumstances we may find ourselves in, God is always there with us. Look again at the promises of God, "I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you." The key is to not get distracted by the circumstances around us, but to keep looking forward, toward Jesus. If we fix our eyes on Jesus, then even during tumultuous times, we will have the peace of God in our hearts.

David Robison