There were 12 men in a boat headed across the water when a sudden wind came out of nowhere. Although some on board were lifelong fishermen, and had plenty of experience, they were scared. This must have been like nothing they had seen before, the boat felt as if it was going to fall apart and they feared for their lives.
Suddenly a figure appeared and it was headed towards them, walking on the water. In their already panicked minds this was simply too much to take. They thought this was a ghost. But as he drew nearer to them the apparition spoke to them in a clear voice they all recognized. “Do not be afraid.”1
Jesus told them not to be afraid, but that must have been a lot easier said than done as they stared in shocked silence trying to figure out how Jesus was standing there.
But then one of them spoke up. It was Peter and he still seemed to be in a state of disbelief as he asked, “if it is you, command me to come to you.”2
Jesus tells Peter to come and Peter steps out onto the water and starts walking toward Jesus. Peter is walking on the water! However, he quickly looks at the storm and he begins to sink. He cries out in anguish and asks Jesus to save him.3 Jesus saves Peter, but he also rebukes him for his lack of faith.4
Peter’s request to join Jesus, and the fact he actually obeyed him and followed him out into the water was a great act of faith. But then something happened; we do not know why, but Peter took his focus off of Jesus and looked at the storm around him. When he took his eyes off of Jesus he began to flounder.
After all Peter had seen and all Jesus had taught him, a little bit of doubt crept in, but at his weakest moment in that scenario he cried out to the Lord for help and he was delivered.
Peter may have had a weak moment in the midst of the storm, but he is the only apostle who made the leap of faith during the storm and he knew where to turn when he needed to be saved.
What a wonderful lesson for all of us! We all face storms in our lives, some physical, some mental, some work related, some relationship based, and the list goes on, but it is how we deal with these storms that is important. When you feel like the storm is closing in around you and you are at your weakest point do you remember to reach out to Jesus? Or do you try to steer through the storm on your own? We will fail sometimes, just as Peter did, but it is important to remember Jesus will be there to pick us up when we turn to him with a heart towards God.
Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me (Psalm 50:15 ESV)
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