He Still Walks on WaterÖrnek

What’s It Like to Sink?
Today we answer the important question: “What’s it like to sink?”

We can be assured of Christ’s love by examining what happened with the disciples in general and Peter in particular. As their boat tossed on the waves, the disciples were filled with doubt. The situation looked hopeless. Most of the disciples seemed helpless amid their waves of fear and shallow faith.

But Peter didn’t allow the storm to determine his faith—he looked past it and saw Jesus. Despite his apprehension, Peter gathered the faith to ask, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28, NIV). In Matthew 14:29, without hesitating, Jesus said, “Come.” He will always say, “Come.” Apply that to whatever sickness, troubled child, overbearing boss, or financial worry you are facing right now, and remember that He is the Master of the sea, Creator of the wind, and Ruler of the universe. He is our Lord, Jesus Christ. It may seem like the boat is being tossed from stem to stern and is nowhere near a safe place, but He says, “Come.” No matter how impossible it may seem, He says, “Come.” The situation may not make sense, but He says, “Come.”

It was Jesus who made His disciples get in the boat and go before Him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. But now the focus shifted from getting in the boat to getting out of the boat. Peter had to get out of the boat. The miracle was waiting for him on the water. Peter got out of the boat despite the towering winds and giant waves. Likewise, we can’t wait for the seas to calm and the storm to pass to test the waters. Sometimes, you just have to get out of the boat. Fear will tell us that we’re going to sink with the ship. But faith declares that even if the ship sinks, our hope is not in a man-made boat but in the power of God.

That is why Jesus called Peter to come to Him on the water. Peter obeyed. We must realize that we can never walk on water if we never get out of the boat. What boat is God calling you to step out of in faith?

A picture of God’s great love is woven throughout this passage from Matthew 14. After catching him, Jesus says to Peter that he has “little faith.” Jesus knew Peter was capable of even greater faith. In contrast, the disciples in the boat had no faith. He is bigger than our fears, and He will not let us sink. Whether we are walking on the water or sinking in it, He is the Master of the storm. And through Him, we are more than victorious.

Don't believe you have enough faith to be victorious? Let's look at what Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 17:20 when they asked Him why they had failed to cast a demon out of a boy.

". . . Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” — Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)

Truths such as this are why we need to be meditating daily on God’s Word and fellowshipping regularly with other saints and fellow church members. We need each other! We need constant reminders of God’s love, as expressed in this passage from Paul’s first letter to Timothy:

"Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. — 1 Timothy 4:14–16 (NLT)