A Trust Without Borders - Psalm 46
I love the moments when God seems to whisper His truth in the quiet beauty of His creation.
Recently, some family friends invited us to vacation with them at a beautiful spot off the coast of Florida. While overlooking the expanse of water at Useppa Island, the song Oceans started to play in my headphones, and I could feel God’s nearness. The familiar lyrics, “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me,” spoke to me differently that morning. And looking across the water, I couldn’t help but picture Peter being invited by Jesus to step out of the boat and walk on the water. Just as Jesus said to Peter, “Come,” He has also invited you and me to trust Him above all else. To let what the world tells us to be true go, and with our eyes fixed on Him, go where He calls us.
Because we have been praying through the Psalms this year, I have been spending more time working through them and finding how they correlate with many other scriptures. Like Peter in the waves, Psalm 46:2-3 doesn’t paint a picture of a time of peace, but speaks of mountains giving way and roaring waters. Yet sandwiching the chaos, God offers these beautiful promises.
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
To give credit where it is due, Peter took the first steps of trust and got out of the boat. (Would I even do that?) We know Peter didn’t begin to sink because the waves grew larger; he began to sink when his focus shifted from Jesus to the wind and the waves around him. How often do we find ourselves doing the same thing? When uncertainty comes, we focus on the circumstances, rather than the One holding us. We begin to let the size of our problems influence us instead of keeping our faith in God Almighty.
Psalm 46 gently reminds us that in storms our confidence is found in God’s constant presence. God is an ever-present help in trouble. God is within us. God will help us. Paul shares this message again in Philippians 4:13 when he says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The God who called Peter onto the water and rescued him when doubts began to arise is the same God who reaches for us whenever fear begins to pull us under. The God who sustained Paul through all of his trials is the same God who will sustain and strengthen us.
Most of us are facing some type of storm: a season of uncertainty, a difficult relationship, a health concern, a challenging decision… the list goes on and on. Whatever you are facing, cling to the words of truth spoken to you by your Heavenly Father in Psalm 46. God is with you. His presence is greater than your fear. His faithfulness is stronger than your uncertainty; He is bigger than your circumstance, and He is worthy of your unwavering trust.
When the waves rise, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Just as Peter learned, our faith isn’t found when the waves disappear; it is found when we remember who is standing with us in the middle of them.
So where is God inviting you and me to step out on the waters? Inviting our faith to have no borders, calling us to trust in Him, and calling us to have faith in His promises. That He loves us, that He gave everything for us to have an abundant life, and that He will not let us fall. When we are ready to say “yes” to God’s invitation, ask Him where He is calling us, and then eagerly listen and be ready to step out of the boat.
Please pray with me
Jesus, my prayer is that I can have trust without borders. Even when the ground feels unstable, I want to hear your voice and be ready and willing to step out of the boat's safety. I know you are capable of miracles. I know you are capable of more than I can imagine, so with my eyes fixed on you, I will trust that you will not forsake me and will not let me fall. Amen
