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One of my favorite stories is when Jesus walked on water, and Peter came out to walk with Him. I love that story.

“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?” Matthew 14:28-31

Now that I’m older, I have to wear glasses all the time. I didn’t realize how bad my eyesight has become until a few months back, I broke the glasses I was wearing. I didn’t have a recent pair of glasses, so I pulled out an old pair from one of my drawers.  This pair was at least 8-10 years old. I put them on, hoping they would be just as good as the other pair. Nope. Not even close. I had to squint to see anything, Everything had a genuine blur to them. I went around the house squinting all day. It was so frustrating. It would be three weeks before I could get another pair. When I finally did, the relief I felt! Everything was so clear and sharp. Even colors seem to be more vivid.

The story of Peter walking on water is me right now. I’m Peter. I’m looking ahead to the future, and wondering what is going to happen. When I do that, I start to panic. Fear and anxiety sets in and I start sinking, just like Peter did.

The story of Peter walking on water tells us, believers, how we are to live are lives. We are to look right at Jesus, just like Peter. We aren’t supposed to look around at the waves or the fact that we are walking on water, only look at Jesus. See Him clearly. Focus on Him. When we do, we are safe. When we don’t, we sink. I’m finding I need to do that consistently.

Physically, my eyesight, without glasses isn’t so great. Spiritually, I need to remind myself that my vision is only good, when my focus is on Jesus Christ. If I stare at the problems ahead of me, I start to sink. I start to get panicky feelings of what’s ahead. That’s not how God wants me to live. He wants me to focus on Him. Jesus gives me crispy, spiritual eyesight. I can see well, if I focus on Jesus. When I take my eyes off of Him, I can’t see well at all, and panic sets in.

So that’s what I’m doing now. Every time I start to worry about the future, I let it go, and instead, start thinking about God. I remember so many times, over and over when God answered my prayers. I call up details of the joy I felt.

That’s what God wants all of us, believers, to do. He wants us to lift our eyes off of the problem, and instead to focus on him. Pray to Him. Then we can see clearly. God is our spiritual eyeglasses that helps us to see things clearly. And what do we see clearly? God tells us He will never leave us or forsake us. He tells us He loves us. He tells us He provides for us. I’m focusing on these things, and it’s making the biggest difference in my life.