Matthew 14:22-33
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
I have always admired Peter's courage for stepping out of the boat unto the waters. He was not alone, as the bible suggests that he had eleven other guys with him. Yet, he was the only one who had the courage to step out. He was the only one who made such a request and then followed through, however briefly.
I was speaking to a dear friend of mine who told me some of the challenges she currently faces. Her husband's company is letting people go, and so he is applying for a job in another state. She is pregnant and fighting with gestational diabetes, using insulin to try and achieve regular numbers. She has little boy that is supposed to start school soon. She would need to sell her house, find a new job, pack up to leave, deliver a baby and more. She has a lot on her plate, more than I have the space to write about here. There was no doubt about it, she needed a booster.
So I began to remind her of her Big and Great God. Just like David did in Psalms 77, we have to encourage our self by remembering what God has already done. I reminded her that when she prayed for a new home, God answered; when the doctors said she wouldn't get pregnant God came through and she is now pregnant for the 2nd time; when she didn't have a job, God gave her one just at the right time. God did that for her, in her book of Acts and He is the same God today. As I pressed send on the email she replied:
The nurse just called they are increasing my insulin dosages again :-(
The good news is right now things are closer to being in range, not quite there yet but they hope these little extras will top me off. Well at least until I get the next surge of pregnancy hormones.
She is right, flesh wars against our spirit. It invites things like doubt and fear to come in and like Peter, we sink. Jesus' response as he lifted a sinking Peter was, "...why did you doubt?" Doubt sinks a man just like a storm will sink a ship. Even now I can picture Jesus asking me the same thing, "why did you doubt?" Why did I allow the circumstances to become bigger than my super awesome, all knowing God? Why did I allow fear to cripple me from moving towards the path Christ has for me? Why did I not see that He is with me even when the storm winds were howling about? Why did I doubt? Why did you?
Today, I want to encourage you, as much as my friend and myself. Our problems are not greater than God's solution. When the Lord said Be still and know that I am God, it really is good advice. Allow your minds to be still in Him. Allow yourself the liberty to look upon Him and not outward or inward. Allow His presence to permeate your space and therefore, squeeze out any room for doubt. It is time my friends to step out of our storm tossed boats, into the waiting arms of a Saviour who bids us "Come".
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