Walking on Water
Walking On Water
By Dawn Harris
Lately I have been fascinated by the story of Peter walking on water found in Matthew 14:22-33.
Peter was one of the first disciples Jesus called. He had been with Jesus “doing life.” He sat under His teaching, watched Him perform miracles, and absorbed all kinds of knowledge from the Creator Himself. Jesus had given him (and the other disciples) the same authority to teach and perform miracles…
Then we come to chapter 14. The disciples had just had a long day. They had seen Jesus feed over 5000 people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. They had served the crowd and were now heading out in their boat…then the storm comes.
Sounds like my life (all but the cool parts.) I get so busy…DOING and SERVING and when I am weary (at my worst)…the storm comes!
The disciples look out and see someone walking on the water. Their immediate reaction…FEAR. Again, sounds far too familiar.
When they finally realize it is Jesus (wake up call), Peter says, “I want THAT!”
Okay that is my interpretation, but still…it works.
Jesus says, “Come on…”
And then this man leaps out into the storm and walks on water!
What possesses a man to JUMP into a storm?!
Jesus said, “Come.” What else could he do? His Savior said, “Come.”
He KNEW Jesus. He KNEW it would be alright. And he JUMPED into the storm!
I want THAT kind of faith!!
I know, I know…but he sank. I read that part too. But look at what happened…He started to believe his circumstances and took his eyes off of Jesus. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.” “Did Jesus REALLY say, ‘Come’ or was that just ME?!” Sound familiar? Too familiar…
Just as he gasps for breath, Jesus reaches out and pulls him up and walks WITH him back to the boat.
Okay, so maybe Peter wasn’t perfect. Who is? But he got to walk on water WITH Jesus. Even if only for a little while.
I want THAT!!
I want to JUMP into my storm and walk on water WITH Jesus. Even if I fail, Jesus is there to walk with me. What is the alternative? What did the other disciples do?
They had the SAME situation…and they CHOSE to stay in the boat! IN THE BOAT! They chose to stay in a boat, in a storm, being tossed about…they didn’t even ask Jesus to calm the storm. They just sat there paralyzed by their fear.
No…Not me. If Jesus says, “Come,” I am going…
I don’t have to be perfect. I don’t have to do it on my own. I don’t even have to succeed. Peter didn’t. But for that moment in time, he was fearless. He trusted in his Savior with NO doubts. He jumped and he walked on water.
I want THAT kind of faith!
Oh, Lord, if You lead me…I WILL follow. If You say, “Come,” I will come. No doubts, no fears. I want that kind of faith!