The Only Hope That Matters: Finding True Rest and Peace

I had the strangest dream.

It was an odd mash-up of work and personal life, all balled into a series of events that just got weirder.

Then I could see myself in my trusty Toyota, driving across this narrow bridge with no guardrails. Heading right toward me was a large truck taking up almost all of my lane. I tried to balance, but the truck forced me off the road, and soon I was falling—RAV4 and all—toward a rushing river far below.

I clearly remember my dream-bound cry:

“Lord, save me!”

Thankfully, I woke up before the car hit the water, but I’ve been mulling over that prayer ever since.

That simple, desperate plea is our topic on today’s episode of Unwrapping Rest, the podcast for Christian women who are tired of the hustle, weary from perfectionism, and longing for a hope that doesn’t wear them out.

I’m Dawn Tolbert, writer, striver in recovery, and fellow traveler learning to trade performance for peace.

I’m so glad you’re here.

This is Episode 11, The Only Hope That Matters.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation you just couldn’t handle?

Maybe it wasn’t as dramatic or life-and-death as the dream I had. But haven’t most of us experienced that heart-racing, crippling fear that leaves us certain we cannot handle our circumstances on our own?

Matthew 14 tells us the apostle Peter certainly did.

It had been a long, hard day.

The morning began with news that John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, had been executed.

Jesus wanted some time alone.

Instead, He and His disciples, including Peter, were surrounded by crowds looking for help.

Jesus had compassion on them. He spent the entire day caring for their needs, healing the sick, and even miraculously feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with only five loaves of bread and two fish.

Verse 22 tells us that immediately afterward, Jesus instructed the disciples to get into a boat and go on ahead without Him. As they set out across the sea, He stayed behind to dismiss the crowd.

Jesus then spent almost the whole night praying.

Meanwhile, the disciples were crossing the sea when a huge storm developed.

The truth we discover in the intense moments that followed can really help us learn how to walk our own rest, not striving journey.

When we feel beyond hope, verse 25 tells us, Jesus came to them walking on the sea.

At this point it was between three and six in the morning. The disciples had been struggling in the storm for hours. They were experienced sailors, but they hadn’t been able to make headway against the raging wind and waves.

Think how they must have felt—battered, exhausted, fearful, way beyond hope.

Did you catch what happened?

Jesus saw their struggle, and He came to them right in the middle of it.

But the disciples were so focused on their circumstances that they almost completely missed seeing Jesus.

Oh, they saw something, but they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

I’ve been there.

I’ve let the chaos of my circumstances define my perceptions instead of seeing things through spiritual eyes. I’ve leaned on the world’s understanding rather than looking to God for help.

One reason I think the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus is because they simply weren’t looking for Him. It didn’t make sense to them.

They knew they were out in the middle of the lake. They were focused on their battle against the storm and the struggle against their circumstances so much that they weren’t even trying to find hope anymore.

They were leaning on their own understanding, and they didn’t even recognize the Living Hope when He came walking right up to them on top of the water.

So our first takeaway is this:

Always be looking for Jesus, especially when things feel beyond hope.

Verse 27 tells us that Jesus called out to them, “Take heart. It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Return to that boat with me.

The disciples are exhausted from their struggle. They’re still actively fighting, no doubt praying as they try to stay afloat. They’re soaked through to the skin.

Then, over the roar of the waves, they hear a familiar voice.

It sounds like Jesus telling them not to be afraid.

Hope might have started to stir in their hearts.

And then there’s Peter.

Rash. Act-first, think-later Peter.

He wants proof.

So he calls out, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

Jesus’ answer is simple:

“Come.”

Peter gets out of the boat, taking steps across the water as he makes his way to Jesus.

I’ve always wanted to know how far he made it.

Was it just a few steps? A few feet?

Scripture doesn’t tell us, but we do know he trusted Jesus enough to put his faith into action.

So the second point in our rest, not striving journey is this:

When God calls us, we have to respond.

We have to put our faith into action and move forward in the direction He has called us.

But what about when trouble comes?

Things changed quickly for Peter.

He had been doing great until he noticed the wind and the waves.

He became afraid and immediately began to sink.

Verse 30 tells us it happened when he saw the wind.

You know what that means, don’t you?

Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started looking around at the storm that was still raging.

So that’s our third point.

Hebrews 12 puts it this way:

“Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

That verse isn’t talking about just a quick glance.

We need to stay focused on Jesus as we move through our lives.

Our job is to trust Him and fix our eyes on Him, confident that He will care for us.

So what happens when we need help?

Peter teaches us that lesson quite well and brings us back to the theme of this episode.

He realized he was sinking and cried out, just as I did in my dream:

“Lord, save me!”

And Jesus did.

When we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances, or when we realize we’ve taken our eyes off Jesus, we too can cry out to Him for help, and He will respond.

He reached out and took Peter by the hand, asking an important question:

“Why did you doubt?”

That’s a good question for us as well.

Why do we doubt?

Why do we take our eyes off Christ and focus on the storm raging around us?

Why do we become so fearful?

Take a few moments today to pray through those questions, asking God to forgive your moments of doubt and to help you live confidently in Him.

Then we come to what happens when we trust the Living Hope.

The remainder of the story in Matthew 14 shows us exactly why we can fully trust Jesus.

After He grabbed Peter by the hand, they climbed back into the boat.

And do you know what happened?

The wind died down.

That’s what Jesus’ presence can do for us, too.

When we draw near to Him, even in the middle of the storms of life, even if our circumstances don’t change, we can still find peace in His presence and in His provision.

We can respond the same way the disciples did in verse 33:

“Truly You are the Son of God.”

He is so worthy of our worship.

And you know what?

He is calling us, too.

Friend, if you’re feeling weary today—thinking you might just slip beneath the waves—whisper Peter’s prayer:

“Lord, save me.”

He will reach out, take your hand, and remind you:

“You’re not alone. I’ve got you. Fix your eyes on Me.”

Jesus is worthy of our love, devotion, and worship.

He is strong enough to save us even in the midst of any storm we will ever face.

In Him—and in Him alone—we find true hope that lasts, not just here on earth, but forever and ever.

Amen.

Will you join me in prayer?

Dear Lord, we thank You that You are our hope, that You see us when we’re battling against the storm.

Help us focus on You.

Help us fix our eyes on You and trust You fully.

Give us courage, Lord, as we place our complete trust in You.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Until next time, keep resting, keep trusting Jesus, and remember: You don’t have to do it all to be deeply loved by God.

I’m cheering you on, always.