It was a fog-shrouded morning, July 4, 1952, when a young woman named Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island. She intended to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. Long-distance swimming was not new to her; she had been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions.
The water was numbingly cold that day. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in her party. Several times sharks had to be driven away with rifle fire. She swam more than 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit...only one-mile from her goal. Later she said, "I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land I might have made it."
So close... but Florence quit early.
Over 2000 years ago, Jesus’ disciples were ready to quit too. Their leader had been crucified and placed in a tomb... and in their minds it was over.
Might as well stop swimming.
Jesus had disappeared into the fog of an unmet promise.
Death had won.
Time to quit.
Or so they thought.
The Bible says it this way:
“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’” John 20:19-23
Can’t you just see it. Jesus’ own trusted men... huddled together trying to figure out their next move. They were convinced that the One they’d put their trust in wasn’t who He promised He was. What would they do now? Can’t go back to fishing, tent making, tax collecting and the like... too risky. What if somebody remembered they’d hung out with Jesus. Surely they’d be captured and killed. The fog had rolled in. They could no longer see what was coming and they were scared. Time to pack it in and give up...
Ever felt like that? Have you wanted to quit because you weren’t sure of the future? Many of us have. We feel like the situation we’re in is hopeless, helpless, and over. Where’s God? Why isn’t the change coming? Why won’t the situation improve?
The disciples thought the same thing. Jesus heard them... He knew His men were frightened so He showed up inside the room.
“Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.”
Notice what Jesus did first. He calmed them. His first words back could have scolded them for their fear... corrected them in their doubt... or been upset with them because of their lack of faith. Instead, Jesus enters the room with affirmation and comfort...
Peace be with you.
Terror became thankfulness... cynicism gave way to celebration!
Today...when you want to quit... read those words above again. Peace be with you.
Those four words mean so much. Jesus tells his disciples (and us)... don’t worry, don’t fear, don’t fret, don’t cry, don’t wonder... and most importantly...Don’t quit. Jesus is right there with you. You may not see Him in the uncertainties of life... but He’s there.
Are these words for you today? Feeling lost in the fog with no idea what’s coming? Don’t quit. Don’t stop swimming. Jesus is there. The Prince of Peace came back from the dead so that you and I would live triumphant lives... persevering through whatever holds us back from becoming who we were created to be. Even when it feels like you are just treading water... you aren’t drowning. Jesus won’t allow that.
Look up... see His face in the room... experience His peace.... and swim on.
You’ve got Him... so you’ve got this.
