Believe it or not flexibility is an important key to success. People who are rigid and inflexible create all kinds of problems for themselves. When situations arise that require a change of plans, their frustration level can escalate from temper tantrums to despair. Being the son of a minister, I learned early in life about plan “B.” Many dinners were warmed over and trips postponed and rescheduled.
Buoyancy is the ability to “go with the flow.” In other words, when plans fail, learn to improvise. Flexibility enables us to withstand pressure. We become resilient when we take charge of our life by being prepared for the unexpected. Whether it is a sudden crisis, a detour, or an incidental delay, God always provides an alternate route.
Matthew 14:29
“Jesus said, Come. And when Peter came down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”
Practical Application and Assignments:
It was a strange phenomenon when Jesus appeared to His disciples walking on water. They thought they were seeing a ghost. They were already terrified that their boat was going to sink because of the intensity of an unexpected storm. When Jesus identified Himself, Peter took a leap of faith and began walking toward Jesus on the water. When he looked down, he became afraid and began to sink. Immediately, Jesus rescued him.
- Walk on top of your troubles. Don’t allow your problems to keep you down. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Peter did not start sinking until he focused on his situation. Andre Gide said, “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
- Be flexible when change is inevitable. Mike Murdock said, “Crisis always occurs at the curve of change.” When it’s sink or swim, start swimming. Who knows! Maybe you will even be rescued by a cruise ship. Sometimes plan “B” stands for “better.”
“…the wind ceased, and when they crossed over to the other side, they went ashore.” Matthew 14:32, 34
