A Hand to Hold

     There is a time (in my case, many times) that nothing aside from a supernatural word or touch from Heaven itself will break through my circumstances and doubts and give comfort to my searching heart.  Oh, to break out of my Thomas lifestyle and step out onto the waves with Peter!  To simply receive the news of His rising and believe it!  Still, it seems I can’t help but long for the touch…to move my hand to His side and feel the stab in my heart at the memory of what He endured for me.  It always seems to take the touch for me.  I have learned to weather the storms by knowing He is there, but nothing is so terrifying to me as the thought of not feeling His touch.

     On a recent day trip to Kiawha Island with one of my life-long, dearest friends in the world, I couldn’t help but be moved to look at her and mention a stroll across the waves.  She sort of laughed.  I think it was nervous laughter.  She knows me too well!  Then together, we squinted, looking as far as we could see, wishing we believed enough to actually risk the first step.  Being blessed (I use the word loosely) with a very vivid imagination, I can actually imagine myself walking on water.  I can imagine the softness of treading on a calm surface and the cool water underfoot…maybe even feeling it between my toes. 

     What I cannot fathom is stepping out without a hand to hold.

     But, Peter stepped out at the mere sight and voice of the Savior…and the conditions were far from what I described above.  I used to think that walking on water never even crossed Peter’s mind, but that he was only concerned with getting to his Lord, but Matthew 14:28 records Peter saying, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”  I think Peter wanted to walk on water because Jesus walked on water.  Most of us know the rest of the story.  Peter looks around at the wind, (There’s a message in itself.  It wasn’t the waves that scared him.) and as he begins to go under, Christ reaches forth His hand to catch him.  Peter’s passion was unsurpassed and often ended him in “deep trouble”, but no doubt, he never regretted stepping toward his Savior that day.    

     It just occurred to me while typing the last couple sentences that, though Peter stepped out at Jesus’ word, he ultimately needed His touch.  I believe it was Spurgeon who said “we never stop needing more of Jesus”.  Oh, how wonderful to know that He used Thomas and Peter both!  So, whether you're skeptically feeling (with me) for the comfort found in His wounded side or dreaming (with me) of trekking across uncharted waters, take comfort and courage in knowing you are never out of His reach.

“He shall gather the lambs with His arm”~Isaiah 40:11