Matthew 14: 22-33 NIV
Biblegateway.com
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.”
Do you truly believe? I am sure you will say, “Yes” as I have many times. But, after some hard analysis, I have come to realize that the answer is, “No”.
I believe God exists. I believe Jesus died for our sins. I believe heaven and hell is our ultimate destination. Yet, other areas of this belief are gray. Gray and cloudy filled with some doubt, fear, confusion, frustration, and sprinkled at times with bitterness.
Mountaintop experiences with Jesus are extraordinary, happen sporadically and without notice. They can’t be recreated and coming down from the experience can leave one lonely and depressed. Can I continue to have faith in the valley?
When questions are unanswered and a nagging feeling for knowledge begs for attention, can I patiently wait?
The moment a sudden unprovoked attack comes to steal my peace, will I fight or flee to safety?
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.
Jesus left his disciples and sent them in a boat. They traveled far from Him because the boat was “buffeted by the waves” and ” the wind was against it”.
It is inevitable when we step away after time with Jesus , we will be battered by life due to the hate born from the ruler of the world. Life will come to steal our peace and throw us in the jail of fear. Running scared we hunker down into our safe house wanting nothing to do with what lies out in the dark.
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.
He never stops trying to reach us even in our weakness. During our times of fear, he reaches his hand calling us out. I find these times the hardest to overcome.
We have been given the choice and He can’t make us walk in faith. It is our decision to follow His words as a guide even if it hurts.
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!”
Peter took the leap of faith to follow in the storm. Yet, he lost his focus. Oh, that sinking feeling. I pray, I read God’s word, and I listen. I move forward and then something sneaks up to bring me back to life’s reality. Now what? Why does this happen?
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.”
Our true belief is tested and our faith wavers. Doubt is seeded in our hearts. Lies have been softly whispered and choke out the truth God tries to instill. Our humanness causes us to trip and run the other way. But, our great Lord of Lords has the power to stop the storm and calm the seas. We need to continue to step out of the boat as many times as possible, it’s never too late.
Romans 5: 1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
faithful walk in progress 