I feel like the song Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United has become an anthem, sort of, for the people of Christ today. Missionaries, youth groups, and church worship services absolutely EVERYWHERE play this song and hands go up, eyes close, and people sway. Its like this song is the port key [Harry Potter reference] to the Holy Spirit and worship through music. I myself, LOVE this song. It is beautiful ballad, singing bravely to the Father to challenge me and test me in my faith. But…
What is it really ABOUT? I had to know.
While looking for a “theme” for my prayer cards that I’ll be sending out I of course was listening to this song and said “Eureka! This is it! This is my theme!” But….what scripture is that exactly? I don’t just want to put the song lyric, I want a scriptural reference. So I turned to the worldly problem solver known as Google, and searched away. I found a video the guys that wrote the song made specifically about making the song. I listened, and I loved it even more.
Matthew 14:25-33New International Version (NIV)
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
This passage of scripture deals with when Jesus walks on water, obviously, if you took the time to read that ^. Good ol’ Peter. Man oh man if I’m not Peter. Mr. Big Shot has it in him to strut on out there on the waves, has the faith that Christ can let him walk on the water. The waves are rolling, the sea sprays him in the face, he looks down and he becomes AFRAID. Satan places a seed of doubt that spreads like a wildfire through Peter’s heart. He no longer trusts that Jesus can keep him up, so he falls. Where does his faith go once he’s out there?
Shooooooo, right out the window, and Peter is left sinking, sputtering and crying to Jesus to help him.
Here I am, trusting Christ to let me walk on the waters, to take this journey with a group of relative strangers [although they all seem like incredible people], for 11 months to unknown places.
I’m walking out proudly like Peter, standing tall on my faith in him but…will it last? Satan plants this seed of fear and doubt in my mind and the closer the date appears, the more real this becomes and the weaker my faith becomes. What if I get to the Philippines and sink? Bulgaria? Zimbabwe? Will he help me out of the water like he did Peter?
EEEEEERK! STOP IT SATAN! AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FO DAT! I have the faith, the RAW TRUST that my God is bigger. He has called me. I have been chosen. I am the city on the hill and I CAN NOT BE HID. So, I say all that to say this,
“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters in the presence of my Savior. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior.”
I am proud that he chose me to carry his message and his love to the nations, and I will NOT back down.
Raw Trust.
