Going Over the Edge
I love to snow ski. I haven’t been in many years but I’m sure I would still enjoy it. One thing about skiing never changes for me. That is the fear I feel when I get off the ski lift for the first time on a ski trip, make my way to the edge of the mountain, and look down at the slope as it drops off in front of me. You see, I’m not a big fan of heights. I am fine with heights when there is a fence or guard rail or some other thing in front of me that I know will keep me from falling. But stepping towards the edge of something of any great height without that guardrail makes me anxious.
Obviously in snow skiing, there is no railing. The idea is to go over the edge! Because I’ve done it before, and I know I’m at least a mildly competent skier. I know I can do it. I know it will be great fun when I do it. But on that very first run, it always takes me a moment to collect myself, to work up the courage to point my skis down the mountain and just go. Scott will always stand next to me, waiting patiently. And I usually have to say, “Just go on. Give me a minute and I’ll get there.” I stand there, reminding myself I can do it and that when I do, I will love it. I look at the terrain and map out my plan, what angle I will take, which way I will turn, (I turn A LOT – I like control – Scott gets seasick watching me). Finally, I attack my fear head-on, point my skis, and go. Within minutes, I’m so grateful I did. It’s such a wonderful feeling and the views are always amazing. It’s always worth the work it takes for me to face my fear, attack it, and just go!
This week in worship as we continue in our message series, “Finding Peace in the Storm”, we will be thinking about what it means for us to face our fears by attacking our anxiety with action. It’s so easy to let our fear or anxiety keep us from doing the things we want or need to do in life. It’s easy to let the storm, or our fear or anxiety amid the storm have the upper hand. The problem is that letting fear rule us can keep us from the abundant life that Jesus came that we might experience. Sometimes, the best thing we can do in the face of fear is to meet it head-on and do something in response to it. Behavior scientists call it “exposure therapy.” This course of action can’t be used with all our fears, worries, and anxieties, but sometimes it can be really helpful in moving us through fear. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Do the thing we fear, and the death of fear is certain.”
A great example of this principle is found in Matthew 14:22-33 – yet another story of the disciples in a boat in a stormy sea. But there are some differences to this story when compared to the one we looked at last week in Mark’s gospel. One of those differences is found in Peter’s response to his initial fear, seeing Jesus’ walking towards him on the sea. “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Isn’t that just like Peter? The question is, what can we learn from Peter about facing fear head-on by attacking our fear with action? What is the thing God may be calling us to do that we are avoiding out of fear or anxiety? What are the next steps in our faith journey that God may want us to take? What are the next steps in our healing that God wants us to experience, but our worry, fear, or anxiety hold us back?
There is much we can learn from Peter. There is so much for us to wrestle with concerning the role of faith and doubt in our lives. There are so many times in my life when I need to hear Jesus say, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27
I pray you will join us in worship this Sunday, either in-person or online, as we continue the journey of allowing God to bring us peace in whatever storms we may be facing.