“I keep my eyes always on the LORD,
with him at my right hand,
I will not be shaken”
– (Psalm 16:8)

“So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him” (Matthew 14:29-31)

Strong wind….Fear….Shaking….Sinking….

Ever have those feelings?

Life can do that to us sometimes.

Thank God, life is not always that way. Thank God we have our good days and good seasons too!

But when life gets hard, when the storms hit….hmmm….life is unbearable.

But you see, we were never meant to bear the unbearableness of life alone. We will never make it alone. Peter walked on water!!! Just picture that. But he began sinking when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. That’s what happens to us too, when we lose sight of Jesus.

That’s why the psalmist reminds us to keep our eyes on Jesus and we will not be shaken.

You are not alone. You are never alone. God is with you at your right hand. With God, you will not be shaken.

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Pay careful attention to those words: “anything” and “everything.”

Anything – do not worry about ANYTHING.

• But what about all the smoke in the air the fires? – Nope
• What about the covid-19 global pandemic? – Nope
• What about my kids? – Nope
• What about the elections? – Nope
• What about the racial unrest? – Nope
• What about the Mariners? – hmmm…..Nope

Why? Because we can lift up EVERYTHING to God in prayer.

• The smoke in the air and the fires? – Yup
• Covid-19 global pandemic? – Yup
• Kids? – Yup
• The upcoming elections? – Yup
• The racial unrest? – Yup
• The Mariners? – Yeah. Even the Mariners

When we cease worrying about ANYTHING because we lift up EVERYTHING to God in supplication and thanksgiving as a prayer, God promises to give us his peace that surpasses all understanding.

ANYTHING. EVERYTHING.

Makes all the difference in the world.

“Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows” (Psalm 16:4)

Who chooses other gods? Why would anyone do such a thing if it leads to multiplied sorrows?

Yet people do this all the time.

Any time anything or anyone other than God becomes our ultimate concern, ultimate passion, and ultimate interest, they are our gods. This can take the form of our careers, family, children, lovers, etc. Anything that becomes our primary concern functions as our gods.

The Bible has a name for this: idolatry.

Should anyone ever pursue idolatry, only multiplied sorrows is the result. If multiplied sorrows is the result of idolatry why would anyone go down such a path?

Aha! That’s just the thing. This is all about deception. This deception is of the devil. Idols do provide immediate gratification, satisfaction, and pleasure. But it is always fleeting and momentary. It is never permanent. It will always lead to starvation and dissatisfaction. Eventually, the pursuit of such idols leave us empty and broken. But that’s not even the worst part. The pursuit of idols destroys not only the idolator, but everyone the idolator holds dear.

This is the multiplication of sorrows.

So, what is the antidote to idolatry? The psalmist tells us: “You are my Lord: I have no good apart from you” (Psalm 16:2).

Turn to God. Be devoted to God. Submit to God. Surrender to God. Rest in God. Delight yourself in God. The way we do that is to subject all other things under our devotion to God.