walk on water

Be ready to walk on water. This thought has dominated my heart and mind over the past month. Between hearing people tell me those exact words to hearing the song Oceans over and over, I can’t escape it. I was even compared to Peter in one of those Facebook quizzes that some people spend way too much time on. With the persistence of these thoughts, I finally decided to read the story again with fresh eyes. This is what the Lord began to reveal to me.

Jesus didn’t call all of His disciples to walk on water

Jesus didn’t call all of His disciples out of the boat that stormy night. He called them all to follow Him, but He only told one of them to walk on water. I still don’t quite know what to do with that. The other eleven were no less His disciples just because they stayed in the boat. Jesus did not congratulate Peter for doing what no one else was willing to do, but there is definitely something special about answering a specific call from Christ.

If God calls you out of the safety of your boat, are ready to walk on water? On the other hand, if He doesn’t call you out on the water, are you willing to stay right where you are?

Peter wanted to walk on water

After Jesus identified Himself, Peter says “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14:28b NIV) Peter sought after Jesus so much that he was willing to do the impossible in order to follow Him. He didn’t ask Jesus to calm the storm, but rather to draw him closer.

If you want to follow the will of God, you have to first ask Him to draw you closer to Himself. Seek Him first.

Peter did walk on water

Verse 29 says that Peter got out of the boat and actually walked on water towards Jesus. He didn’t wade, swim or surf towards Christ, but actually walked on top of the water. If your anything like me, you’ve probably glossed over that statement and looked right at Peter’s faults. We want to know that we are in good company when our faith is not strong enough.

Rather than focusing on where we are not qualified, not good enough, inexperienced, distracted and lacking faith, we should be focused on Jesus. He sustains us as we walk towards Him. We too can walk on water towards Christ when we keep our eye on Him.

Peter began to sink

When he saw the wind, Peter got scared and began to sink. Last time I checked, sinking in the deep end of the pool is not a slow process. One step off of the side and you’re completely submerged. It’s a little different in our walk with Christ. When we get distracted and/or frightened by the world, it’s not like being dunked by the bully at the pool. First our ankles get wet, then our knees and waist. There are warning signs before we are chest deep and struggling to keep our heads above water.

Peter began to sink and he cried out to Jesus for help. When we get off track and start to sink, cry out to Jesus. Whether we are distracted by the wind or up to our necks in water, we can still cry out to Jesus.

Jesus saved Peter immediately

None of us are perfect. If any of us were, we could walk on water without the help of Jesus. When (not if) we begin to sink, Jesus is ready to grab our hand to save us as soon as we cry out to Him. Jesus is not cruel. He will not stand idly and watch us drown as we cry out to Him for help.

“Do not be anxious about tomorrow…” (Matthew 6:34a ESV) When we are seeking God first, we should not be anxious about where we might mess up or what might or might not happen. No matter what, He is there to catch us.

Jesus performed in spite of Peter’s lack of faith

It is natural to be skeptical. Peter was afraid when he saw the wind and doubted what Christ was doing. Thomas doubted the resurrection of Christ until he say Him firsthand (John 20:24-29). There was another storm on the sea in Matthew 8, but Jesus was with them in the boat. Even with Him there, they were afraid of the storm. The father of a sick boy asked Jesus to help his unbelief in Mark 9:21:-24. The common thread among all of these stories is that the people still sought after Jesus.

In our moments of unbelief and doubt, we need to still seek The One who saves us. To walk on water, we need to keep our eyes forever on Christ.

There is so much more that can be unpacked from this passage of Scripture, but this is what God has been laying on my heart recently. Keep seeking Christ.