This past weekend marked a significant milestone in our family. Before I get to what that was, let me give you a little backstory…
In 1995, I started as a manager at a small coffee shop in Holland, Michigan. I worked there for ten years and loved every minute of it. The owner of the shop became (and still is) one of my most trusted friends. In 2005, Michigan’s economy tanked, and my friend had to lay me off. My wife and I purchased a coffee shop from a sweet couple who were retiring. But even as we grew sales tremendously, the economic climate was too much to bear and we had to close our doors after a year and a half. After looking for work for 18 months, our home was in the process of being foreclosed on. We had to sell it. We moved in with my in-laws in northern Michigan and I was able to find work within a week of moving there.
One Sunday, I had to take a phone call from the owner of the store for a few hours. He was senile and not in the right mind. Every other word was obscene or vulgar and I was just worn down. I was angry. On the way home from work I unloaded everything I was feeling on God. Anger, despair and frustration. It all came out without reservation.
The next day, Monday, on my drive into work, I called my friend who owned the coffee shop. I thanked him for 10 years of a job that I loved going to every day. He said that he had a client in his coffee consulting business that needed a manager. The only catch was that it was in Iowa. I wasn’t about to close a door that was opened just because I’ve never even thought of, or been to, Iowa. That Thursday, my wife and I had a phone call with Mike and Cheryl Wells about coming to Iowa for a visit. That very next day we were in the air headed for Iowa.
Why do I tell you that story? Well, that happened ten years ago. On Friday, April 2, 2010, we came to Le Mars for a visit. We didn’t know what to expect. We didn’t have any indication that Iowa could possibly be where we were being led. Both my wife and I went into that weekend trusting that God knew what He was doing, and He was asking us to trust Him. Sheila calls it a Holy Spirit whirlwind. As the weekend was starting to come to an end, I kept hearing something to the effect of, “Do you have the faith to get out of the boat and trust me?”
My human nature didn’t want to come to Iowa. Our families, friends, schools, churches and our lives up unto that point have been in Michigan. It was home. Why would I ever want to leave?
In Matthew 14, the story of Jesus walking on the water is described. It reads:
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Even as I felt so strongly that I wanted to remain in Michigan, I knew that this was where our family was being led. Even before we left to return to Michigan from that weekend, I knew that I would trust Him with wherever He leads us. I believe wholeheartedly that because we took that step of faith out of the boat, our Savior has blessed us and allowed the turbulent winds in our life at that time to dissipate.
That same faith that brought deliverance from our family’s time of despair can be applied to our world today. Are we going to allow the turbulent winds of spewing political hatred, financial turbulence or even the COVID-19 virus to take our eyes off of our Savior? Or are we going to walk daily in faith knowing that our God will not allow us to sink, no matter how deep the water is.
Did you notice what it said in verse 32? It says that when THEY (emphasis mine), meaning Jesus and Peter, climbed in the boat, the wind died down. We can’t do this alone. Our God knows that. He is with us during this time of social distancing, self-isolation and tempestuous situations. Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us to not be afraid or terrified because He will not leave us or abandon us.
What about you? Are you letting current events take your eyes off of the Giver of Life? Step out in faith today knowing that you are guarded and protected by your Heavenly Father.
