Living hope and indestructible joy!

Matthew 14:24-33
When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

It was with great joy that Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water when his Lord said, “Come!”. But, as he walked on the water, he began to notice the waves and the storm all around him. Instead of fixing his gaze onto Jesus and holding to those words, “Come!”, he looked to the adversity and began to sink.

So it is with many of you who stepped out of the boats of your former lives with great joy and hope in your new found salvation – born again to a living hope. But as you have walked ahead over the years, you have noticed more and more the adversity… and the storm and the waves all around you. Many have believed the lies of the enemy and have forgotten My words to you when your Lord said, “Come!”.

Where is the hope and the joy that you formerly walked in?

But your Saviour says to you now: ‘Reach out your arm and take hold of My outstretched hand. I will lift you up. Trust in Me and I will lift you above the waves, the storms and the death that you see all around.

Fix your eyes onto Me and I will renew the joy of your salvation. I will renew your hope, it is a living hope, it is not dead and it conquers death itself. Breathe in My resurrection life and take hold of the imperishable inheritance that is available to you now! As you fix your eyes upon Me and cultivate your faith and intimacy with Me, I will lift you higher and higher to access all the goodness of My kingdom stored in the heavenly realms for you to use on earth. I call you to a living hope and indestructible joy!’

1 Peter 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you