Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
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. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
The song lyrics link the story of Peter to our own lives - to have faith in Jesus, even "when oceans rise." But, it's more than that. We are called to grow deeper in our faith:
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior.
When we feel like we're drowning in life's storms (struggles / obstacles / trials), we are called to:
- call upon His name,
- keep our eyes above the waves (and on our Lord),
- find peace and rest in His embrace,
- remember that I am Yours and You are mine.
A Scripture verse that I personally feel a deep connection with is the story of Paul's thorn, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
It is in OUR weakness that HE is strong... His grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect. Now, do I always delight in my weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, difficulties? No, but I'm doing my best to be faithful in Him. To allow His sufficient grace to help me to grow my faith and trust in Him deeper, so that I can give all glory to Him... on the good days and the bad.
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I'm going to post the radio edition (4:15 minutes) and the full edition (9 minutes) - I'll also link to the Oceans Song Story, which has a discussion among the singers about the making of the song.
Radio edition (4:15 minutes)
The entire song is great, though the part that always captures me is around 2:10-4:05.
Full edition (9 minutes)
I know it's long, but it's worth it... the part that always captures me is around 3:40-7:45.
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
[6x]
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
Oceans Song Story - Hillsong United
