Hold On
We must hold on: not to what we want but to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Hold on, not to what others have prophesied but to Jesus, the light of the world. Believers, there is mayhem. There is strife in this world. There is war and rumours of wars and — it seems to me — Matthew 24 is unfolding before our very eyes. But we must hold on to the promises of God, both those He has provided in His Word to all who follow, and those He has impressed upon us individually. We must walk on water.
Walking on water in times of trouble
When people in crisis approached Jesus, he didn’t react. He waited. On different occasions when health crises arose, Jesus didn’t run to the aid of a dying child or a dangerously sick friend. No. He took the time to be with those in his immediate presence, and he waited for each “right moment” for God’s timing to act. “ For in him, we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)
That’s walking on water, friends. That’s having faith in Father God to watch over the crises, knowing that when the right time to respond arises, God will be with us to ensure His purposes are met.
This also means of course that we must not fear. We know “that perfect love casts out fear” (1John 4:18). So, in trusting God and trusting Him with and in our lives, we are secure; when we love others as we love ourselves and as God loves us, therein lies His peace, His shalom; when we allow perfect love to invade and pervade, there is no fear.
Calamity or Christ
We have a choice. Where we focus our eyes is up to us. When onslaught of trials come upon us, we may shake for a time. But ultimately, we choose where our hope lies: will it be in our own intervention or in God?
Hope in God
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” (Psalm 42:5)
Where we can go astray
There is no shame in becoming overwhelmed in calamity. When Peter tried to walk on water, he did so at first, but then started to sink (Matthew 14:29). It’s okay to start to sink, because Jesus will reach out and help us.
When we take our eyes off God, and put our trust in man or in ourselves, we start to slip. When we want a particular outcome, we can get intense and dependent on what we see as matters unfold. But when we begin to doubt God’s promised outcome, we need to stop and allow Him to bring us back to Him. This is holding on.
In the world today
There is calamity and strife in the world. But I believe it’s time to let go of our predicted outcomes. Let go of what you expect God to do, and give Him carte blanche in your life, your ambitions, your relationships and your time.
In John 16:32-33 Jesus says, “… in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Do you believe him? If you do, then I’m saying it’s really time to trust him now. That is what holding on is.
Here is an invisible link (hover and you’ll find it) to a very encouraging, uplifting music video of song “Hold On”