Matthew 14:22-31 reports to us the story of Peter's walk on the water. To the casual observer this may seem like just another Bible story, but between Peter and Jesus, this was the testing of faith that would solidify Peter as the rock upon which the modern Christian church would be built.
As I read this passage of scripture I note that Jesus purposefully sent the disciples away in the boat. He directed them that He would meet them on the other side so they had a promise. He went up into the mountain to pray knowing that the waves would come and toss the boat. He knew that the strong wind would come and rock the boat. He sent His disciples into a tumultuous situation hoping that they would hold on to the promise of His meeting them on the other side.
We oftentimes question why God allows us to be tossed and driven in our own lives. Why does He send us into tumultuous situations? To the casual observer it may seem like He is unaware of what's happening to us and that He's not nearby to calm the storm, but I'm here to tell you that the causal observer doesn't know what I know and what Peter knew. You see when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that He has done for me . . . my soul cries out hallelujah! I begin to praise Him because I know that He sent me purposefully into a stormy situation in order to test my faith and to make it stronger. Great faith isn't great faith until it is tested just like a muscle doesn't gain strength until it is exercised and used.
In the middle of the night or in the middle of the situation with the boat being tossed by the waves and driven by the wind, Jesus came to His disciples, walking on the water. They in turn thought He was a ghost and began to scream. Isn't this just like us? In the middle of our storm and our tumultuous situation we don't recognize that it's a test of our faith? We can't even see that Jesus is there and that He is calling for us to step out of the whirlwind into the peace of knowing that He has everything in control.
But one person in that boat that day dared to think, "This could be Jesus." Peter called out to Him and said, "If it is you, command me to come." Jesus simply answered, "Come." Peter climbed out of the boat and begin to walk on the the water to the Master.
To the casual observer it looked like Peter was crazy. But like a popular rap song once stated, You can't see what I can see, 'cause you're blind to the facts! People on the boat may have had a lot to say. They were all terrified because they saw a being walking on the water toward them claiming to be Jesus. Instead of trusting they began screaming with fear. But Peter simply saw Jesus. He saw his friend. He saw his teacher. He trained his eyes on his savior. He looked to the hills knowing that his help was coming from the Lord! So Peter was able to walk on the water.
In my spiritual imagination I wonder what the people on the boat were thinking. They were all in the same boat and they all had the same opportunity to walk on the water to Jesus. But they did not all have the same focus, revelation or the same recognition. See in the midst of the toss and the shake Peter saw Jesus. Do you see Jesus in the middle of your bills being due? Can you see the Lord in the middle of your heartache? Because if you can see Jesus while you're in the middle of your struggle, then He can work signs and miracles in and through you for His glory.
Verse 30 reveals that Peter perceived the strong wind and he began to sink. To the casual observer, it may look like destruction is upon you and is about to overtake you. See some folks are waiting for your fall. They can see that you had the faith to step out of the boat and to walk on the water, but they are still looking at you and not the Lord. They still have their eyes on what's going on with you because they are waiting on you to fail in your faith. But like Peter all we have to do is call out to Jesus and ask Him to save us and as verse 31 shares, Jesus instantly reaches out His hand to catch us.
These are the situations when we all know that no body but the Lord could have done it. God will show up in the middle of your nighttime situation and in the middle of your storm. He will allow the testing of your faith so that you can grow and know that He will deliver you and give you peace. Then He will show Himself to the point where it cannot be denied that He alone is God.
In the end everyone in the boat glorified God because of all that they had witnessed. God was able to get the glory out of the storm. Ask God today to help your faith, to save you and to show Himself so that someone else can glorify God because of all that you are going through.
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