Last week brought several inches of pure white snow that blanketed our back yard in a lovely display. It caught my attention one afternoon while on my way to the kitchen. I stopped to take it in and soon my daughter joined me. We gazed out our large window at the picturesque site and to our amazement a red fox walked out from the woods and into our back yard. He slowly walked across the yard pausing only for a second to look our way and then, just as quickly as he appeared, ran across the yard and was gone. My youngest and I couldn’t believe what we had witnessed. But had we not been looking, we never would have seen it.

I couldn’t help but think of how God is always right before me, but too often I’m just too busy to take the time to stop and look. How many times have I missed him in the eyes of the sweet children I work around? How often have I missed him working in the lives of friends and family because I’m too wrapped up in the details and stressors of my own life to take the time and ask how theirs is?

Peter saw him (Matthew 14:22-32). When the angry waves rocked that boat, Peter was certain it was Jesus who stood before him. He didn’t have to be asked twice. He jumped out, felt the water beneath his feet but stood up anyway. His eyes were locked on his friend. The one he had watched catch the fish the day there wasn’t any (Luke 5:8). The one who had cleansed the lepers (Matthew 8:3), cast out the demons (Matthew 8:32), and made the lame walk (Matthew 9:6). The same one who even healed Peter’s own mother-in-law (Matthew 8:15). The one who had all authority and power and now stood before him in the middle of the raging sea. Peter’s eyes were open and he was looking and as long as he looked, the howling wind and waves didn’t matter.

But Peter is too much like us and that’s why we love him. Like we so often do, Peter quit looking. He let what was going on around him be more important than who was standing before him. And when we let anything take the place of Jesus, we begin to sink.

Don’t look away. Don’t let whatever it is in your life wanting to disrupt you be more important than looking at the one who died for you.

Don’t let your storms keep you from your Savior.

by Paula Harrington @ www.forthright.net