Gò0dNews for Everyone
Young Or Old
Y
by Jacob Herald
oung or old, we all experience the pressures that
dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went
come with living in a modern society. Pressure to
up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night,
succeed or impress is one such instance, society is
he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable
constantly telling us that we are not enough, despite the fact
distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind
that the Bible tells us otherwise. Peer pressure is another
was against it.
example, constantly pushing us away from God’s intended
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on
path for our lives, and pushing us to try dangerous actions
the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they
for the approval of our friends. However, we must realize
were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.
that at the core of our Christian walk, we are called to be different and separate from the sinful forces of this world. Now, let me be clear that being different is not necessarily going against the rules. Breaking the rules does
But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’ And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down” (Matthew 14:22-32). Scientifically speaking, the deeper you are in the ocean, the greater the pressure of the water is around you. When Peter’s faith began to slip, the pressure around him became greater as the waters surrounded him, threatening to pull him deeper
not make you different, it makes you rebellious. Being
and deeper. Perhaps you have hit a spot where you feel
different is taking a stand for something and not giving into
like you have lost some of your faith and slipped beneath
the pressures of the world. That is to say, standing firm in
the waves. The pressure around you is getting greater as
your beliefs, standing strong for Christ, and showing a light
you sink further and further. However, this is where God
into the darkness. This is not an easy path but it is worth
calls for you to be different! Take a stand, have faith, and
every second of the journey.
do what you know to do! Christ is standing on the waters,
Matthew 14:22-32 tells us the story of Jesus standing on the water in the midst of a mighty storm. Jesus asks Peter to step out onto the waters and come towards him, but when Peter
stretching forth his hand. In short, do not let the pressure get to your head. Take a stand. It is going to be okay.
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he
38 // September 2021
About The Author
begins to doubt, he finds himself sinking beneath the waves.
Jacob Herald is a Christian constantly seeking to grow in the Lord. He is a member of Herald Family Ministries, an evangelistic family who travels the U.S. working for the Lord through preaching, singing, and outreach, and has found his calling as a writer and speaker for Christ.
