How do you see yourself react to the storms and trials of life?Many of us are inclined to doubt and fear when these trials and adversities arrive.
As I was pondering this very question one day I happened to be reading in Matthew 14, the story about Jesus walking on the water, and I gained valuable insight about what it means to have the support of someone to help you through the storms of life.
Let me briefly recant this story to you and offer an interpretation as it relates to mentoring and helping others.
When Peter and the other apostles were on the ship in the middle of the night during a ferocious storm, they looked out, away from the boat to a man standing on the water amidst the waves.
Jesus called to them to be calm, and not afraid.
He told them who He was.
Peter then called out to him, went over the side and began to walk towards Christ, thus becoming the second man to walk on water.
As he walked towards the Master, the storm continued brewing.
The waves became bigger, the spray of the water was certainly felt on his face.
The sky was dark, the sound and fury of the storm incredible.
Peter began to fear and doubt.
And he almost immediately began to sink.
He cried out to Jesus to help save him from sinking, and Christ reached out his hand and pulled him from the raging waters.
Okay, now the disclaimer.
I, IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM am equating myself, or any other coach/mentor to Christ.
That, at the least, would be foolish, and at worst, blasphemous.
But I do look at this story as a metaphor to what happens to all of us from time to time in life.
As the storms oflife begin to rage around us, many of us begin to do what Peter did...
have doubt and have fear.
And what happened when that fear and doubt found a place in Peter's heart and mind?He began to slip under the waves.
He began to sink, to drown under the very real influence of the storm that surrounded him.
It is at that point, that the mentor that he looked to for help reached out and lifted him from the storm.
That is what I believe my role is as a coach and mentor.
To help lift those that are sinking beneath the waves of doubt and fear.
All you have to do is reach out, have faith, and ask for the help.
Let me help you get through the storm, and arrive safely on the other shore.
The shore of peace and prosperity.