As I was doing my five-mile walk this morning, although it was 7:00 a.m., it was pretty dark. Before I left my house, I checked my weather app which indicated that the sun would rise at 6:46 a.m. Where was the sun?

Although, there was no visible inkling of sunshine peering through, I knew the sun did indeed rise. It was just my vantage point.

Have you ever been in a plane and you’re flying above the clouds where the sun is shining bright, but you see the houses below the clouds where it looks dark and gloomy? That is because of our vantage point!

Regardless of our circumstances, those of us who are followers of the Lord, Jesus Christ, know that there is another view beyond our dark trials. We can look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith to help us walk through the dark trial.

Remember the Apostle Peter? He’s the apostle who is described as impetuous, and outspoken in his early days. A great case in point, the Apostle Peter, upon seeing Jesus walking on the water, was the only one of his disciples to ask to walk on water too.

Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” 29 And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Matthew 14:25-30 CSB

But when the apostle saw how powerful the wind was he began to sink. Why? Because he took his eyes off Jesus! This is what happens to us when we focus on our circumstance, rather than looking past our circumstance to Jesus. We too sink into despair and hopelessness. We forget that Jesus said “I am with you always, to the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20

We forget to proclaim, like the psalmist, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” Psalm 23:4

We forget that our help is in the Lord. The psalmist declared: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

There is no circumstance or trial in which we find ourselves, where the Lord is not present! Doesn’t the Bible say that he is a very present help in the time of trouble?

It really is all about our perspective. When we look past our circumstance directly to Jesus for help, he is there! We either can live under the cloud of darkness, circumstance and sink into despair, or look to Jesus, who has the perfect vantage point. He is the Author and Finisher. He already knows how we will come through.

So, what happened to Peter? Did he drown? No. Jesus was there to help him.

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:31

We must not doubt, but trust the promises of his word, and look past our circumstance directly to Jesus for help. Jesus is our example. He too, had to look past what he had to endure to the joy of him being seated at the right hand of God.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2