Sinking Into the Waves
Daily Reading: Genesis 14, Psalm 14, Matthew 14, Proverbs 14
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
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!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:22-33
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
I can look back on so many instances in my life where Jesus could have asked me that question.
Jesus had just fed thousands with merely a couple of loaves and fish. He had just performed miracle after miracle. And now, he was walking on water.
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
What has that prayer to Jesus been for you in past? What is that prayer right now?
“Lord, if you desire it, give me a sign that I need to start that ministry.”
“Jesus, if it is your will, make it clear and I will join a small group.”
“Father, show me what it is that you have for me in this season of life, and I will follow.”
Then Jesus says, “Come.”
We take the initial step or two. It is happening! We are really doing it this time!
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Adversity strikes. Fear takes hold. We desire safety.
We forget all of the times that Jesus has shown up in our lives and the miracles he has performed.
We begin to sink.
Back to our safety zone.
“Next year will be a way better time to get involved…
start that ministry…
write that book…
join that small group…
make that career change…”
“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
There have been times in my life where I have confidently stepped out of the boat and walked to Jesus. Regardless of the wind and the waves, I kept my eyes on him and stayed on the path he laid out.
Then there have been more times than I care to count where I was like Peter.
The waves started picking up, the wind was whipping, and I started to sink.
For the disciples that walked this Earth with Jesus in physical form, it was so much easier to cry out, “Lord, save me!”
The good news is, that we still have access to this today!
If we are walking with Jesus throughout our lives, and not isolating him to our “God time” in the morning or Sunday at church, then it is significantly easier to reach out when feel ourselves being pulled under.
This year, when Jesus says, “come”, let’s bravely step out of the boat and walk on the waves to him!
Daily Reflection & Dialogue
What is your “walking on the water” that you feel God pulling you towards this year?
