THESE THINGS SINK YOU IN LIFE

In life, we all have our sinking points but what we do at such points will determine whether we actually sink or not. The circumstances we find ourselves sometimes are enough to make us sink in life. There are times it feels like nothing is working in our lives and we see our lives at a standstill; no forward or backward movement. I have experienced such moments in my life and still do sometimes. I have had a long period of time in my life where it seemed like I wasn't moving ahead in life; no moving forward in life. There were days I felt stagnated in life and did not see a way out and I'm sure so many of us have experienced such moments and possibly still do or are in such moments presently.

Such things that try to sink us in life include; 

• The fear of loosing loved ones.
• the fear of having a failed relationship
• depression.
• anxiety
• lack of faith
• discouragements
• the loss or lack of a job
• insecurity of our present jobs
• lack of confidence in our selves and even in God
• fears of repeated failures
• inability to love and fear of not being loved back
• doubts
• fear of the unknown

No matter how intelligent, confident or how much of a born again you think you are, you get to experience such moments in life and that doesn't make you less of a person, less important or so much of an imperfect being that God doesn't love. It is what makes us human. Such moments try to sink us down the lowest part of life but at such points in our lives, what do we do? What you do at such points is what sets you apart and makes you swim to the safety of the shore. We shall be looking at the life of Peter in the Bible as a case study.

Peter was privileged and opportune to have worked closely with Jesus Christ. He was the only one amongst the disciples who knew who Jesus really was by the revelation of the Spirit when Jesus asked them "Who do you say I am" and only Peter could answer "Thou art the Messiah, the son of the living God".(Mathew 16:13-20). Peter was also the only disciple who was ready to defend Jesus when Jesus was arrested. He dared to cut of the ear of the servant of the high priest who came to arrest Jesus (John 18:8-11). Even when Jesus predicted His death in Mark 8:31-33, Peter was the only disciple who rebuked Jesus from saying such. With all these, it could be said that Peter was the most faithful and zealous disciple of Jesus. He was bold and passionate in following Jesus yet like every human being, Peter had his sinking points and we can see his sinking points first from where he tried to walk on the water like Jesus did in Mathew 14:22-33. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on water, they at first were scared but became relaxed when Jesus revealed himself to them but Peter was the only disciple who dared to ask Jesus to bid him come walk on the waters if it was truly Jesus and Jesus asked him to come. Peter was doing fine at first walking on the water as long as he had his on Jesus but began to sink immediately he set his eyes on the storm. Peter also sank when He denied Jesus three times taking his eyes of Jesus but set his eyes on the fear of what people might do to him if he was recognized as one of the disciples of Jesus.

Like Peter we all sink when we take our eyes of Jesus, the focus towards every other thing we want to achieve in life. Most times, we focus on the price we have to pay than the prize we would receive at the end of every trial. Peter started sinking out fear of what people might do to him, discouragement to continue walking on water as a result of the storm he saw. Like Peter, we despair when faced with the storms (challenges) of life and find it difficult to move on. Sometimes we wanna give in or give up when faced with dire circumstances threatening our faith and courage but at such times what do we do in order to move on and not cave in?

• SHIFT YOUR FOCUS : Take your eyes of the storm and focus on the solution. Peter was able to walk on water as long as he had his on Jesus but began to sink and and got scared the moment he set his eyes on the storm. When faced with the difficulties of life, we often take our eyes off God and rather focus on the problems being faced. Peter had faith when He focused on Jesus, but fear stepped in when he shifted his gaze to the storm, so it is with everyone one of us. As long as your eyes are on God who keeps you hopeful, your faith remains secured but the more we dwell on the challenges the more our faith dwindles. 

• NEVER LOOSE HOPE : Life will always throw challenges at us irrespective of who we are , what we are and what we have. Each stage in life comes with its challenge. The world we live in is like an ocean, and the challenges or difficulties of life are the currents and storms of the sea. You will always face trials, persecution, opposition, ridicules, fears, depression, oppression, failures and life will never be easy but be strong and of good courage (Joshua 1:7). God has not promised you smooth sailing but promises you a safe landing. He has promised to never leave you alone but see you through every storm and to be with you through it all (Deuteronomy 31:6).

• LET FAITH REIGN : Instead of fear, let your faith in Christ reign. Where fear reigns, faith disappears but when faith reigns, fear disappears. When fear sets in, replace it with faith knowing and believing your faith in God will make you scale through the storms of life. Fear is fondly defined as "False Evidence Appearing Real" while faith has been defined in Hebrews 11:1 as "The confidence of things hoped for and the assurance of things not seen." Fear makes you feel you can't get through this but faith makes you see the impossible and makes you believe the impossible is achievable, so between faith and fear, which do you choose? Faith keeps you moving on and hopeful. Peter had faith when He focused on Jesus, but fear stepped in when he shifted his gaze to the storm.

Challenges/storms will always stare us in the face every step of the way. It's not easily avoided but can be conquered. Don't let the storms of life sink or drown you with fears or discouragement. Be bold to face every storm with faith focusing on Jesus Christ alone. You will will walk on water and not sink as long as you keep you head held high through it all and you will scale through.

Quote for the day - " When you go through deep waters, I will be with you". Isaiah 43:2

Share Your thoughts !