Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:29-30
In the 14th chapter of Matthew, the disciples have just witnessed Jesus’ miraculous feeding over 5,000 people with five small loaves of bread and two fish. After they’ve picked up the leftovers, Jesus sends them out in their boat while He escapes the crowds to pray. Sudden storms are a common occurrence on the Sea of Galilee. That day was no exception.
As the disciples and their boat are whipped about by the fearsome wind and formidable waves, they are terrified. Suddenly they see Jesus walking on the water towards them. You’d think they’d be relieved to see their Savior and Friend, especially after just witnessing His power to feed the multitudes. But they were even more afraid as they thought He was a ghost. Peter, ever the impulsive one, gets out of the boat and starts to walk on the water towards Jesus.
The boldness of Peter is truly amazing! Would you have the courage to jump out of a boat into a stormy sea? Yet, Peter’s bravery only last a few seconds. The minute he takes his eyes off Jesus, he begins to sink. As Peter cries out to the Lord to save him, Jesus reaches out, catches Peter, and they both climb into the boat. Jesus calms the wind and the waves, delivering the disciples out of danger.
When life’s storms threaten to swallow you whole, what do you do? It’s all too easy to let the wind and waves buffet and batter us as we tremble in fear. Whether it’s mass killings and terrorism that frighten us or whether it’s something we’re struggling with personally, looking to Jesus to save us from the tumult is the first step. Believing that He is able to save us because of His past faithfulness is crucial. Just as Peter had to step out of the boat to see if he could walk on water, we too need to step out in faith that Jesus is trustworthy and will catch us if we fall. When we’re walking our faith in obedience to God, we will still experience life’s storms. But we can trust Jesus to grab us by the hand and hold us up. The key is to learn from Peter and don’t take our eyes off Jesus. For when we do, we will surely sink into the depths of the storm.
Being brave doesn’t mean that we are not afraid. It means we step out in faith, perhaps in fear, but trusting in the One who calmed the Sea of Galilee to calm the sea inside of us. Doing it afraid is sometimes the only way to step out in faith and be brave.
Dear Lord, You know what storms life brings my way. I thank You for your faithfulness in the past and Your power in the present to save me. I ask for Your peace in the midst of the turmoil and the courage to step out in faith knowing You are with me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
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Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
In the 14th chapter of Matthew, the disciples have just witnessed Jesus’ miraculous feeding over 5,000 people with five small loaves of bread and two fish. After they’ve picked up the leftovers, Jesus sends them out in their boat while He escapes the crowds to pray. Sudden storms are a common occurrence on the Sea of Galilee. That day was no exception.
As the disciples and their boat are whipped about by the fearsome wind and formidable waves, they are terrified. Suddenly they see Jesus walking on the water towards them. You’d think they’d be relieved to see their Savior and Friend, especially after just witnessing His power to feed the multitudes. But they were even more afraid as they thought He was a ghost. Peter, ever the impulsive one, gets out of the boat and starts to walk on the water towards Jesus.
The boldness of Peter is truly amazing! Would you have the courage to jump out of a boat into a stormy sea? Yet, Peter’s bravery only last a few seconds. The minute he takes his eyes off Jesus, he begins to sink. As Peter cries out to the Lord to save him, Jesus reaches out, catches Peter, and they both climb into the boat. Jesus calms the wind and the waves, delivering the disciples out of danger.
When life’s storms threaten to swallow you whole, what do you do? It’s all too easy to let the wind and waves buffet and batter us as we tremble in fear. Whether it’s mass killings and terrorism that frighten us or whether it’s something we’re struggling with personally, looking to Jesus to save us from the tumult is the first step. Believing that He is able to save us because of His past faithfulness is crucial. Just as Peter had to step out of the boat to see if he could walk on water, we too need to step out in faith that Jesus is trustworthy and will catch us if we fall. When we’re walking our faith in obedience to God, we will still experience life’s storms. But we can trust Jesus to grab us by the hand and hold us up. The key is to learn from Peter and don’t take our eyes off Jesus. For when we do, we will surely sink into the depths of the storm.
Being brave doesn’t mean that we are not afraid. It means we step out in faith, perhaps in fear, but trusting in the One who calmed the Sea of Galilee to calm the sea inside of us. Doing it afraid is sometimes the only way to step out in faith and be brave.
Dear Lord, You know what storms life brings my way. I thank You for your faithfulness in the past and Your power in the present to save me. I ask for Your peace in the midst of the turmoil and the courage to step out in faith knowing You are with me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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