Oceans (where My Feet May Fail)

The song "Oceans" by Hillsong seems to be touching a chord in the hearts of people around the world.  It's being sung in many churches and places where people gather to worship God and learn how to live well with Him.

You call me out upon the waters,

The great unknown where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery,

In oceans deep, My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name,

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise my soul will rest in Your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters. 

Your sovereign hand will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me,

You've never failed and You won't start now

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters, Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior¹

This song is based on a story we read in the Bible in Matthew 14.  Jesus was up in the mountains praying one night.  He sent His disciples on to the next place they needed to be.  In order to get to that place they had to cross the Sea of Galilee at night.  They were fishermen on those waters for years so sailing at night was not unusual for them.  However, this night a raging storm blew up and their boat was in trouble.  In the middle of the storm they saw a figure coming towards them, walking on top of the water.  One can only imagine the panic that must have seized them.  Their first impression was that they were seeing a ghost.  Then, this exchange took place:

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”  Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.  Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”  (Matthew 14:27-31 NLT)

What do we learn from this story that the song tries to reflect?  God is always watching us and even though we may experience times of struggle, God will come at just the right time.  In the middle of chaos, when we feel most helpless, God will remind us that He is with us.  He will remind us that we need not fear because His authority and power are supreme over any situation we may encounter.  Even though our faith may falter and our actions seem insufficient, God will encourage us and take us by the hand until we are through the storm. Like Peter, we'll never know the truth of that statement until we fully rely on God, trusting that He will always save us, because He loves us.

¹  http://www.songlyrics.com/hillsong/oceans-where-feet-may-fail-lyrics/

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