Hard Place
May 20, 2025 by Addison Crissone
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while
he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there
alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried with fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said. "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, and walked in the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
- Matthew 14:22-31
he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there
alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried with fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said. "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, and walked in the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
- Matthew 14:22-31
The disciples were in a hard place.
The waves thrashed and the waters swelled around them, threatening to sink their little boat. Thunder clapped overhead as lightning flashed with a swiftness that caused one to tremble in both surprise and fear.
But Jesus had made them get into the boat ahead of him.
Why would He, knowing the storm ahead, send them alone?
Because they were in God's will- they were entering a perfect storm.
Many of us know that being obedient to God does not always lead to a life of smooth sailing, but rather can often lead to tumultuous situations, and seemingly impossible decisions. Rather rough sailing, indeed.
Maybe you, too, are in a hard place. Going through a period of rough sailing.
Perhaps you are facing financial stress, problems in your marriage, or maybe you are walking through a miscarriage or infertility. Perhaps you are struggling to reach family members with the message of your faith, or maybe you are just struggling to find your position in your blended family at all. Maybe you are getting tired of waiting for something that seems to never arrive, like a husband, a wife, or children. Maybe you are a graduate struggling to figure out what to do with your life now.
Or maybe you're facing much smaller, seemingly unnoticed, issues.
Regardless, these are all hard places to be.
Elisabeth Elliot, wife of missionary martyr Jim Elliot, once said-
The waves thrashed and the waters swelled around them, threatening to sink their little boat. Thunder clapped overhead as lightning flashed with a swiftness that caused one to tremble in both surprise and fear.
But Jesus had made them get into the boat ahead of him.
Why would He, knowing the storm ahead, send them alone?
Because they were in God's will- they were entering a perfect storm.
Many of us know that being obedient to God does not always lead to a life of smooth sailing, but rather can often lead to tumultuous situations, and seemingly impossible decisions. Rather rough sailing, indeed.
Maybe you, too, are in a hard place. Going through a period of rough sailing.
Perhaps you are facing financial stress, problems in your marriage, or maybe you are walking through a miscarriage or infertility. Perhaps you are struggling to reach family members with the message of your faith, or maybe you are just struggling to find your position in your blended family at all. Maybe you are getting tired of waiting for something that seems to never arrive, like a husband, a wife, or children. Maybe you are a graduate struggling to figure out what to do with your life now.
Or maybe you're facing much smaller, seemingly unnoticed, issues.
Regardless, these are all hard places to be.
Elisabeth Elliot, wife of missionary martyr Jim Elliot, once said-
"This hard place in which you perhaps find yourself is the very place in which God is giving you opportunity to look only to him."
Look, for instance, at Peter in the passage we read above.
When Peter lost his focus on Jesus and gave his attention to the strength and ferocity of the wind and waves around him, he became afraid, started to sink, and cried out to Jesus to save him. When Peter began to sink, he knew where to turn. Where to look. In response to Peter's cry, Jesus caught hold of him, took him into his arms, and saved him.
But why would Jesus intentionally allow his followers to face such fearful situations? Such hard places?
To answer this question, I would like you to picture something in your mind's eye.
You are standing amid an angry ocean, with all your problems and thoughts, and fears surrounding you. The wind is whipping. The thunder claps above your head. The lighting is growing closer. The waves are growing taller- they will seize your boat any moment. Fear begins tor grip you, wrapping it's nasty tendrils around your heart and causing your heart to beat rapidly.
But Jesus is looking at you.
He holds your eyes steadily, his gaze calm and gentle despite the fear in your own.
"Why do you think I allow trials?" he asks you, his voice somehow clear and close even as the wind grows stronger. "Why do you think I have placed you in this hard place? Because they prove the genuineness of your faith. They strengthen you."
He pauses for a moment, pointing to the storm around you both.
"This is strengthening you. Just keep your eyes on me. Look at me. I have much planned for you, including hard things. But you only need to look at me- these hard places will end."
When Peter lost his focus on Jesus and gave his attention to the strength and ferocity of the wind and waves around him, he became afraid, started to sink, and cried out to Jesus to save him. When Peter began to sink, he knew where to turn. Where to look. In response to Peter's cry, Jesus caught hold of him, took him into his arms, and saved him.
But why would Jesus intentionally allow his followers to face such fearful situations? Such hard places?
To answer this question, I would like you to picture something in your mind's eye.
You are standing amid an angry ocean, with all your problems and thoughts, and fears surrounding you. The wind is whipping. The thunder claps above your head. The lighting is growing closer. The waves are growing taller- they will seize your boat any moment. Fear begins tor grip you, wrapping it's nasty tendrils around your heart and causing your heart to beat rapidly.
But Jesus is looking at you.
He holds your eyes steadily, his gaze calm and gentle despite the fear in your own.
"Why do you think I allow trials?" he asks you, his voice somehow clear and close even as the wind grows stronger. "Why do you think I have placed you in this hard place? Because they prove the genuineness of your faith. They strengthen you."
He pauses for a moment, pointing to the storm around you both.
"This is strengthening you. Just keep your eyes on me. Look at me. I have much planned for you, including hard things. But you only need to look at me- these hard places will end."
