The Chosen + BibleProject | Season 3 Reading PlanSample

Facing Our Own Tests

In this scene, Peter is facing a decision: Do I get out of this boat and attempt to walk on water during this raging storm, or do I decline Jesus’ invitation and stay safely seated? At the same time, a storm rages within Peter himself over his wife’s recent miscarriage and the suffering unfolding at home. Even worse, he’s devoting himself to Jesus—the great healer—who seems to be helping others generously while ignoring the needs of Peter and his family.

The miscarriage backstory with Peter’s wife is imagined, but the human experience it conveys comes from every Scripture that talks about people facing the painful challenge of choosing to trust God when he does not act like we want or expect. Why does God heal others but not me? Why, when he’s on a mission to bring life and healing to the world, does Peter and Eden’s unborn child die? The thunder and lightning threatening Peter’s life on Galilee almost pale in comparison to the storm that’s crushing his heart.

Peter faces a decision about whether he will trust Jesus and accept his invitation to get out of the boat. He passes the test at first, choosing to trust Jesus with his life. But as the chaos intensifies, it’s hard for him to stay focused. And as he recalls the almost unbearable pain unfolding in his own heart and home, he folds. Can you relate? As readers, we are invited to not only see this fateful moment in Peter’s life and reflect upon what he was going through but also consider our own response to Jesus’ invitations.

Jesus invites us to trust his intention to bless every human being with renewed life, even if our experience suggests he does not care—perhaps especially when our circumstances suggest that he doesn't care. Embracing that kind of trust often leads us into experiences that feel like getting pummeled by storms. Like Peter, those who follow Jesus often face “stormy” tests.

Through one experience after another, Jesus teaches us to trust him beyond what our sight tells us, setting our minds on things above the Earth. Jesus remains sure-footed in the midst of chaos, and he invites us to walk close with him. He’s the only one who can truly calm the storm.

Reflection Prompts/Questions

1. In this story, Peter is not only facing a question about whether or not to get out of the boat. He is facing questions about whether Jesus is actually trustworthy. Have you ever faced a similar test? If so, what were the circumstances, and what was the outcome? How does this story from Peter’s life encourage us in our faith?
2. If the gospel writers wanted us to see the storms on Galilee as representative of the turmoil Jesus’ followers face when choosing to live like him, what does that say about Jesus’ ultimate power in the midst of our own conflicts or “storms”? Is it easier or more difficult to trust Jesus during periods of intense conflict?
3. Living within the chaos and fear rampant throughout our world today, what would it look like to become a person who sets his or her mind on things above (Col. 3:1-3)?
4. When in your life do you feel like God’s “tests” are most noticeable or most significant? And what is that experience like for you?