Devotionals

Do You Feel Like You Are Sinking?

by Michael Edwards 
08/15/25
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In Matthew 14:28-31 (NASB), Peter steps out of the boat to walk on water toward Jesus. As long as his eyes are fixed on the Lord, he defies the impossible, striding across the waves. But when he notices the wind and the churning sea, fear grips him, and he begins to sink. “Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him” (v. 31), rescuing him from the depths. Peter’s experience mirrors our own lives. When we focus on Jesus, we rise above life’s storms; when we fixate on our circumstances—the wind and waves of trials—we sink under their weight.

Life’s challenges, like those waves, can feel overwhelming: financial struggles, health crises, or fractured relationships. These are the temporal things, fleeting and changeable. Yet, Hebrews 12:2 urges us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.” By focusing on Him, we anchor ourselves to the eternal, unshaken by the chaos around us. Jesus is greater than any storm, sovereign over every circumstance. As Psalm 46:1 declares, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” He is bigger than our problems, a steady hand reaching out when we falter.

When we shift our gaze from the temporal to the eternal, we find peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). The apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Our circumstances are fleeting, but Jesus is forever—unchanging, faithful, and sovereign. Like Peter, we may waver, but when we cry out, Jesus is near to lift us up.

To walk in Jesus’ peace, we must choose daily to focus on Him. Pray, immerse yourself in His Word, and trust His promises. Colossians 3:2 exhorts us, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” When life’s waves roar, don’t look down. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. He will hold you above the storm, guiding you through every trial with His unshakable peace.

Prayer: Lord, help me fix my eyes on You, not my circumstances. Grant me Your peace to rise above life’s storms, trusting in Your eternal strength. Amen.