Grab On!

-Joe Fornear

Last weekend I was giving out Stronghold Ministry gift baskets at a Relay for Life in my hometown of Pittsburgh. My three sisters were with me at the Stronghold Ministry tent and my brother’s band was playing. They announced the time for cancer survivors to take their lap. One of my brother’s friends relentlessly encouraged me to take the lap. In my mind, I wasn’t there for me. Yet to humor him, I hit the track. I had never even been to a Relay for Life, and I was caught off guard by all of the cheering people lining the track. They were acknowledging the difficulty of our cancer battles. I flashbacked 13 years to the pain and powerlessness of my Stage IV journey – and to the amazing support of my family, friends and most of all, of the Lord, My Stronghold.

I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me. – Psalm 63:8

If you’re like me, you have your good days when you feel you can conquer the world. Then along comes a wave of pain or a huge gust of bad news and you get all wobbly. I remember the times of overcoming and the times of sinking – just like Peter.

But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” – Matthew 14:30

Think about it, he actually walked on the surface of the stormy Sea of Galilee! Yet eventually, his faith wavered when doubts and fears crept in and down he went. Isn’t that the rub with walking above your circumstances – consistency?

The good news for Peter, and you and I, is The Master of Storms is always around us. Like a dad who patiently trains his child to ride a bike, He steadies and lifts us up when we fall. So c’mon, let’s take a victory lap while clinging to Him – grab on.