Going Under Versus Walking On Water

“Rejoicing goes against any negative that comes against faith. Joy lifts us out of a negative perspective because it is rooted in the nature of God; therefore when we rejoice we become partakers of His divine nature.”
– Graham Cooke

My dear warrior, 
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Today my inward reality matched the outward storms that were raging around me. I felt myself tossed by the wind and the waves, and I found my spirit and soul in unmatched turmoil. I am not one for turmoil, since I insist on taking up rest as a weapon. But yesterday, just before God told me what I was going to write, God told me He was going to train me up in a new weapon. So of course, we know that when God tells you is going to take you to a new level, you are immediately plunged into a season of distress.
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 Graham Cooke says “We develop the mind of Christ through confession and believing.” But if we choose to confess negative things (that we are crippled, broken, depression, unable to function, unable to move past whatever trauma we have just experienced) then that will become our present (and overwhelming) reality. Recently, I have found myself guilty of negative confessions such as these.
 
I was reminded of Peter walking out on the water as I faced the waves crashing around me, and I realized: when Peter asked Jesus “if that’s You, bid me come” and Jesus said “come,” Peter walked out on the water without any instruction. He didn’t ask ‘how’ or say that the waves were too big or the water was too rough. He just did it. That is the way we are supposed to be. When we have been given a prophetic promise, when God has told us the outcome, when we KNOW that we are going to walk out to Jesus and that is the final destination: Him, then we step out in faith. But if we want to walk on water, we must first step out of the boat.

For those of us who are already out of the boat (like me today), far too often, as we are walking on the water, our mistake is that we take our eyes off of Jesus. We start looking at the circumstances around us; we begin to focus on the wind and the waves; we look at the impossibilities we are facing (omigosh, I can’t walk on water!) as though being called by Him, getting out of the boat, and then walking on water wasn’t proof enough that God is with us. We get distracted, overwhelmed, and then we begin to sink. As we start sinking, we begin to kick and scream and yell and try not to go under; but Jesus is right there. He is not going to let you go under. He will not let you drown. But you need to calm down! You need to let Him grab your hand and pull you back up. And then you need to realize you are standing by His side, and you will not go under as long as your gaze is fixed on Him.

Again, your gaze must be fixed on Him. He is bigger than your problems, your circumstances, and your pain. But you must fix your eyes on Him.

But what about my wants and needs? What about my unanswered prayers? Why am I delayed or denied? Why won’t He answer me!? Beloved, Psalm 37:4 commands you to take delight in the Lord, and promises you that He will give you your heart’s desire. Again, the focus has to be on Him, on delighting in Him, on rejoicing in Him. I love what Jim Elliot said, “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.” I also love Neal Maxwell’s quotation, “Faith in God includes faith in His timing.”

Beloved, both of these are so true, and yet, when we face the wind and the waves, we question His goodness, kindness, and sovereignty. We question His timing. We question if He knows what He is doing at all. My question to God lately has been, “Do you even see me at all?!” and His YES overwhelmed me. 

In each season, He wants to introduce us to a new aspect of His nature that we could only learn by our current circumstances. But the more you fight and resist and insist on having things your way, and wanting your way now, the longer you will draw out your own season, your own negativity and your own suffering. In the moment you choose to let go and trust Him with every single thing in your life, you will find yourself overwhelmed by His peace. 

Just like with getting out of the boat to get to Jesus, He begins every season by telling you the outcome. If you have a prophetic promise, it isn’t going anywhere. If He has told you the outcome, don’t stress about the “how.” We are not meant to carry the weight of the “how.” God has that part taken care of. Fix your eyes on Him, know that His promises are sure, and take one step at a time with your eyes on the victory. (If you focus your eyes on something else, on negativity, you can change your own reality and sabotage your outcome.)

So, my dear warrior, begin by rejoicing. Begin by delighting in Him. Fix your gaze on Him. Forget every negative confession, let go of all the turmoil in your heart and lay it down at the foot of the cross and focus simply on confessing, “God I choose to trust You in all things and with all things.” Keep confessing your trust in Him until you really do trust Him with all things, and in all of your circumstances. It doesn’t matter if you’ve lost everything, are broke or broken-hearted, have had your reputation ruined, or are simply down because it’s a cloudy day. 

God, right here and right now, I choose to trust You with my life. I choose not to struggle and fight anymore. I surrender. I’m letting go of my wants and needs because I know You are faithful; I’m letting go of the timing because I know You are trustworthy. You said You would clothe me and feed me; You said You would give me the desires of my heart if I delight in You; You said ask and You shall receive. I rest in that truth, and I choose to trust that You will do all that You promised in Your timing. 

Trust that He is faithful,
Warrior Beloved

©Michèle Aimée, 2017