Getting ready this morning for worship in one of the village churches, I was getting my shower and was all soaped up from head to toe when all of the sudden the water cut off completely. For a moment, I started to panic. Now sometimes this happens with the water and the electricity and other creature comforts here. It will cut off and no one knows exactly when they will cut back on. So, here I am soap in my eyes and all over my body and no water.

First I felt a surge of fear and then very quickly after that anger. Remembering that I had 2 water bottles in the other room that I ran and got, dumping them all over me, but alas they were not enough. I then used the cell phone Grace let me borrow to call her and see if should could check with someone to do something about my predicament. But the phone was dead.

Feeling anger for the first time since I have been here in India, I remembered what I had been reading for my devotions this morning. In Matthew 14, the disciples are out on the sea in the middle of a raging storm and Jesus comes out to them. Peter wants to get out of the boat and walk to him and Jesus invites him to do so. But not long thereafter, he begins to sink. And then the scripture says: “Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.”

And so, different scenario by far from my own, but same principle. Remembering Peter’s dilemma, I too called out to the Lord for help. And as soon as I did, I mean as soon as I did, the water came back on. And to be honest, I was definitely relieved and not all that surprised.

More often than I would like to admit, I respond to adverse situations by reacting in fear – “Oh no, what am I going to do?” And then that emotion usually fades pretty rapidly and becomes replaced by anger – “I can’t believe this is happening to me!” And eventually I get around to calling on the Lord after I have gone to a bunch of unnecessary emotional pit stops in route to an eventual place of peace.

But today I more quickly recalled the scriptures, applied them to my situation, and called on the Lord. And He heard my cry and answered my call according to my need. And so after finishing my shower and sitting to think about what just happened, I began to wonder: “Why don’t I go to the Lord more often as a first resort when I am distressed? And how many more of these answers from Him have I missed b/c I haven’t done so?”

I know it seems like a stretch to compare my plight with Peter’s and I am really not trying to do that. But the principle here is really important for me to remember and assimilate into my walkabout, everyday life. So, hopefully the next time and there will be one, when things aren’t going the way I want them to or think they should, I hope that I can remember where to turn and where not to turn ad find the risen Christ reaching out to me and showering (no pun intended) me with His provision and blessing in the place of my need and in response to my cry.

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