Evening, January 14
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Matthew 14:30
"Beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me."
Matthew 14:30
Sinking times are praying times with the Lord's servants. Peter
neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he
began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late
was not too late. In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we
find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven
upon the shore by the waves. The fox hies to its hole for protection;
the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer
hastens to the mercy seat for safety. Heaven's great harbour of refuge
is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven
there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for
it with all sail.
Short prayers are long enough. There were but three words in the
petition which Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for his
purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. A sense of need is a
mighty teacher of brevity. If our prayers had less of the tail feathers
of pride and more wing they would be all the better. Verbiage is to
devotion as chaff to the wheat. Precious things lie in small compass,
and all that is real prayer in many a long address might have been
uttered in a petition as short as that of Peter.
Our extremities are the Lord's opportunities. Immediately a keen sense
of danger forces an anxious cry from us the ear of Jesus hears, and
with him ear and heart go together, and the hand does not long linger.
At the last moment we appeal to our Master, but his swift hand makes up
for our delays by instant and effectual action. Are we nearly engulfed
by the boisterous waters of affliction? Let us then lift up our souls
unto our Saviour, and we may rest assured that he will not suffer us to
perish. When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist
his powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.