READ: MATTHEW 14:25-33; HEBREWS 12:1-2

Lemarti woke up on the third day doubting his purpose here in the treehouse village. As a dendrology intern he felt lonely and useless. Was he wasting everyone’s time? Sure, he’d studied trees in his classes the past couple years, but these people had been researching—and living in—the forest for generations. Every day he discovered more things he still had to learn, and he felt like he just couldn’t keep up. He growled into his pillow, “How do I think about everything, Lord? What do I focus on? How do I find courage to be a part of this village?” He rubbed his face and sat up.

So far Lemarti had managed to stick to traveling by stairs, ladders, and the swinging rope bridges built with planks. Today Kolufo, his guide and trainer, told him it was time to learn a new crossing method.

“Look, it’s not that bad,” said Kolufo. “Sure, you’re standing on a rope. But there’s another rope to hang on to! Easy sneezy! Just walk across.”

Lemarti surveyed the two parallel ropes that reached ten feet to the lab.

“Easy sneezy,” he murmured, and grabbed the hand rope that stretched across at arm level. He slid one foot onto the bottom rope. His eyes shot to the forest floor one hundred feet down. The net just below him was almost invisible, and he didn’t quite believe it would catch him. He froze.

“Lemarti,” groaned Kolufo. “You’ve got to stop looking around. Look ahead at the lab and walk toward it.”

“I can’t help it,” Lemarti hissed. “I keep looking at all those other houses and then at the ground, and then I have a heart attack.”

“Here, let’s switch.” Kolufo grabbed the rope and scooted across. “Okay, now you try, but this time, just look at me. If you look down or at all these cool treehouses or whatever, I’m going to take the best microscope. Come on.”

Lemarti grabbed the high rope, took a deep breath, and stared at Kolufo. He slid his feet forward. The treehouse village disappeared. The space below him was gone. All he could see was Kolufo. This was exactly what he needed to do with Jesus—keep his eyes on Him, and everything else would make sense.

Kolufo grabbed his hand and helped him off the ropes. • Amy Glendinning

• Today’s allegorical story is inspired by Matthew 14:25-33. Jesus was walking on the sea, and then Peter started walking toward Jesus—on the water—until he looked at the powerful wind and waves, and he began to sink. But immediately, Jesus reached out and rescued Peter. Similarly, when we keep our eyes on Jesus, instead of on all the overwhelming things in our lives and the world around us, He helps us follow Him one step at a time (John 8:12; 15:5). But, even when we take our eyes off Jesus and fall, He is our safety net. He knows we won’t follow Him perfectly, and He died and rose again to forgive our sins and give us eternal life with Him. How could these truths give us comfort and courage as we navigate life in our broken world?

• Can you think of a time you were overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do? Were there any ways Jesus redirected your focus back onto Him.

• Have you ever had a moment where looking at Jesus helped the things in your life make sense? What was that like?

• What are some practical ways you can keep your eyes on Jesus? Remember, none of us can do this alone. Who is a trusted Christian in your life who can remind you of Jesus’s power and love, point you to Scripture, and pray with you and for you, especially when life is difficult.

And let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (WEB)