Walking on Water


When God calls you to step out of the boat and walk on water, prepare your heart for the storm of unbelief that may surround you. People will question your timing. Girl, are you sure you want to do that now? People will question your motives. “Why are doing this? Are you doing this because…?” People will question your sanity (LOL). “Maybe you need to go to the doctor and talk to somebody first.” People will compare your situation to their situation, and give you a thousand reasons why “they” would get back in the boat. “If I were you, I would…” You can fill in the blank. People will stand by and wait for you to sink. “…I give her three months. She’ll be back.” Okay! I’m having too much fun with this, but you get my drift? People talk! Their opinions are very important… to them.

Well, I was led to read a familiar chapter and verse. It’s the one about Jesus walking on the water. I know you’ve heard this a thousand times. Bear with me for a moment. I wanted to give you the cliff notes version, but I was led to read it in its entirety.

Matthew 14:22-33 states, “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

So, let me get right to it. When Jesus called Peter out of the boat, the wind was already against them. Jesus wasn’t shaken by the wind! He controls the wind! That’s why he didn’t have a problem honoring Peter’s request. In other words, when he calls us to step out of the boat and walk on water, you can rest assure that Jesus already factored negative opinions and people of little faith into the equation because they’re all around us. (Sometimes the person with little faith is us). I needed to hear this for myself because I get caught up in what other people think or how other people feel about decisions God called me to make. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus; otherwise, we will start to sink like Peter. When he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that Peter demonstrated how to call for help. You see, when we find ourselves sinking, we know how to call on the name of Jesus. The bible said, “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Yes, we like to focus on the part where Jesus scolded him for having little faith, but we need to focus on the part where Jesus immediately reached out his hand. Peter didn’t have to wait for Jesus to rescue him and neither do we! And when they got back in the boat, the wind ceased. Jesus wants us to know that he doesn’t have to stop the storms in order to bring us through it. He doesn’t have to stop the people from talking in order to bring us through it. We just have to trust in Him and Him alone. Just think about it. Then, go to the Father and pray about it.

#Soul Searching with Our Father#