In life, we all have things we are comfortable with and don’t want to change. However, when we become Christians, the Lord does not want us to become comfortable. That’s why He challenges us, and is always motivating us to do more. Why? Because there is potential in everyone to do great things and the Lord is the only one who can bring it out of us. The only way our potential becomes visible to us is when we are willing to step out. How many blessings have we missed because we were unwilling to step out? We struggle with moving in a direction we have not gone before. This is when our faith has to kick in, and we are able to move forward into the unknown. When we are willing to do this, then we will find out what the Lord has in stored for us.
This is what happened to Peter in Matthew 14:22-33. Jesus sent the disciples off in a boat to go to the other side of the lake. When they set sail, Jesus dismissed the crowd and went up the mountain to pray. By evening, the disciples were far from land and were caught in a storm; struggling to keep the boat afloat. Early in the morning before day break, they were still struggling in the storm, and Jesus came toward them walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him, they thought He was a ghost. Now the situation on the boat became chaotic, because they were dealing with a storm, and struggling to keep the boat afloat. Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying “take heart, it is I; do not be afraid”. Then Peter does the unexpected, and says “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water”. This was a bold statement, because up until this point Peter was working with the other disciples to keep the boat afloat. Now he wants to abandon the plan, and step out into the water to get to Jesus. Why was he so willing to do this? There was nothing but confusion on the boat, and he was seeking peace. Peter believed the only way to have peace is to be with Jesus, and it does not matter where He is. Therefore, Peter was willing to step out, to find out what the Lord was going to do.
Jesus’ response was one word; “come”, and now Peter had to make the decision to leave the boat. Once he stepped out of the boat, he began to walk on the water, because he was focused on Jesus. Peter was able to experience the power of Jesus, because he was willing to move forward in faith.
By functioning through faith, Peter was able to make the impossible a reality; he was walking on water heading to Jesus. This shows that there are no boundaries for the people of God when we are willing to be moved by faith. The key to our faith is for us not to allow anything to distract us. While he was walking on the water, Peter noticed the strong winds, he became frightened and began to sink. When he began to sink, he reverted back to his faith, and called on Jesus to save him. Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and lifted Peter from the water, and they walked on water back to the boat. Jesus said to Peter, “you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When we move by faith we will be able to experience the power of the Lord. And find out we can do all things through trusting in the Lord. Continue to walk in your blessings!
