Come Out into the Deep

Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

Friend of Dial Hope, life is difficult—it gets bumpy sometimes. Things don’t always go as we hoped. Sometimes the winds blow against us. Sometimes we feel crushed, confused, and weighed down. It’s enough to make even Norman Vincent Peale a pessimist!

In Matthew 14, Simon Peter walked on water toward Jesus. But when he took his eyes off Christ and looked at the waves, he became afraid and began to sink (Matthew 14:22–33).

There’s a story about a little girl who was excited to see Snow White with her father. Someone asked, “But won’t you be scared of the wicked witch?” The girl replied, “No. When the witch comes on, I won’t look at her—I’ll just look at my father!”

That’s how it works, isn’t it? When we keep our eyes fixed on God, we can do incredible things.

In Charlene Anderson’s poem Dialog with God, God speaks first—gently but firmly. The poet responds, hesitant at first, but ultimately with confidence and trust:

“Come out into the deep…”
“But Lord, I’ll sink to the bottom.”
“I am with you…”
“Okay, Lord, here I come!”

Let us pray: Loving God, Shepherd of all that lives, we come to you with joy and thanksgiving for the gift of this day—an unrepeatable miracle. Be with those who are afraid, who wonder why there is no safety anywhere. Be with those who are lonely, who wonder if there will ever be someone to turn to in the night. Guide us to a place of strength and courage where we can pick up the pieces of our lives and help build a Kingdom of justice and care—free from hostility and terror, and filled with the roses of righteousness. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. Amen.