Matthew 14:28-29, NKJV
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” [29] So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
For me, it was jumping off a cliff into a river below. This was one of several activities we had to do at a men’s camp to conquer our fears. Now, there are two things you might not know about me. First, I am terrified of heights and second, I can’t swim. This jump meant I was trying to conquer two fears at the same time, and the moment I jumped, I felt like I was going to die.
Unlike me, who can’t swim, Peter was comfortable around water because he was a fisherman. This time round, he and the other disciples were in fear because they were in the middle of the sea at night and there was a fierce storm threatening to capsize the boat. It was Jesus who gave them the directive to get into the boat and cross over to the other side.
Just because God directs us to go in a particular direction does not mean we will not face challenges and trouble.
In the midst of all that panic, they see a figure walking on the water coming towards them, and they think it’s a ghost. Now they are terrified. Jesus, who is the one walking towards them, speaks and identifies himself.
Peter does something many of us would not think of doing. In the midst of the fear and terror, he says; “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And Jesus says come.
Unlike me, who hesitated and took almost 10 minutes before I jumped off the cliff, Peter jumps out of the boat, and he actually walks on water. Spontaneous obedience, that’s what God is looking for. That we would trust him enough to obey even in the midst of fear and even when his instructions are not logical.
As long as Peter was focused on Jesus, he walked on water towards him. The moment he looked away and gazed at the waves and the storm, he started sinking. Focusing on our problems will sink us, but focusing on Jesus will give us the power to walk over the issues threatening to sink us.
Thank God that Peter knew what to do when he started sinking, he called out to Jesus to save him, and Jesus did.
Reflections.
What is the most terrifying thing you have ever done?
What are the current storms you are currently going through? How is it affecting your life?
Call out to Jesus and trust him, he has the power to cause you to walk on water.
