Day 26: Jesus, You Are The Exceptional In The Ordinary

There they were in the boat fighting contrary winds and turbulent waves. The disciples had experienced the challenges of the sea before. But tonight was different. Now they knew Jesus. But He was not in the boat with them for He had stayed behind to pray alone on the mountain. He instructed His disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. And now, danger of shipwreck most likely entered their minds. By 3 am, they had battled the stormy sea for nine hours. And so often, our weakest time of faith comes when the battle rages longer than we had ever imagined. But those adversities test the quality of our faith. For mustard seed faith can move mountains when objectively placed in our infinite God who can accomplish the impossible.

Just when perhaps the disciples thought they could go on no longer, they saw Jesus coming toward them, walking on the water. Jesus was the exceptional vision in the ordinary for those disciples. He walked on the water in the fury of a storm. At first, the disciples thought they were seeing a ghost, because they had never seen someone walk on water. Jesus immediately spoke to them. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage. I am here.” (Matthew 14:27). Peter called to Him, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come to You, walking on water.” Where in the world did Peter get such a stupendous, out of the box idea? I’m guessing that Peter did not spend long hours thinking about walking on water. I believe we are witnessing exactly the way the Lord gives a big, risk-taking idea and plants it in the minds of simple, faith-walking, believing men and women. I believe Jesus loved Peter’s faith, small as it was at that time. He said, “Yes, come.” You might have thought He was inviting Peter to a nice walk in the garden, not on top of the waves of a turbulent, wind-blown sea. Peter did not think twice. He went over to the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. Peter, by faith, was walking on water! He was accomplishing the very idea that had come into his mind—an exceptional, impossible thing he’s never done before—a walk on water. But then, his small faith moved away from Jesus. Instead of firmly focusing on Jesus, Peter saw the strong wind and waves, became terrified, and began to sink.

How can we possibly criticize Peter here, for we too, have quickly taken our eyes off of our Lord many times, and doubted His good plans and purposes in our own lives? Peter immediately shouted, “Save me, Lord!” Good prayer. Great prayer. I need to memorize that prayer and practice it again and again. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed Peter. And now, Peter’s test of faith was finished. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt Me?” Oh, I hope these words sink deep into my own heart. The storm rages. The wind blows. And I quickly become afraid and think I’m not going to make it. Remember Jesus’ words to the disciples at the very beginning of the journey? He told them that they were going to the other side of the lake. Faith in those words would have kept them steady in the storm. Jesus has said we’re going to the other side of the lake, so no matter how high those waves are, He has promised we will step on to dry land. And then, what about Jesus’ words to Peter? “Yes, come.” He was promising Peter that he could step out on those waves and walk on water. And Peter, in fact, was walking on the water for a few brief moments. When Peter and Jesus got back in the boat, the wind stopped. This exceptional experience with Jesus in their ordinary lives was enough for the disciples. They worshipped Jesus and exclaimed, “You really are the Son of God!”

That little boat safely arrived on the other side of the lake, taking the disciples and Jesus to a new place and a new day of ministry. Another ordinary day was about to become extraordinary because of the person and presence of Jesus. Life is never ordinary when you walk with your Lord. He changes the landscape of every day, making the most minute task a labor of love. Oswald Chambers says it well: “It does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of the day as a saint, to go through drudgery as a saint, to go through poverty as a saint, to go through an ordinary, unobtrusive, ignored existence as a saint, unnoted and unnoticeable. The ‘show business,’ which is so incorporated into our view of Christian work today, has caused us to drift far from our Lord’s conception of discipleship. It is instilled in us to think that we have to do exceptional things for God; we have not. We have to be exceptional in ordinary things…”

I love those words today. The Lord is exceptional to me in every ordinary moments of life. I love walking with Him, serving Him, and living with Him through the highs and lows of the day. May we continue to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. And who knows, He just may ask us to step out of our comfort zone today, and walk on the water of a new, out of the box, risk-taking idea. May we, like Peter, go for it, get out of the boat, and start walking.

My Response: Lord Jesus, You are exceptional and turn every ordinary day into extraordinary moments. You are the light that shines in the darkness and the beauty in my life today. Give me the strength and faith to step out on the water and walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.