“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’” – Matthew 14:30-31 (NIV)
In Matthew 14:29-31, Peter obeyed Jesus and got out of the boat. By his faith, he was walking on water – nothing even fathomable to mankind. Yet, the moment he saw the wind, he became fearful. His first instinct was to call out to the Lord, and the Lord answered immediately.
Walking on water is not something a man would normally think of; Peter, however, got out of the boat on faith, but remained internally conflicted by fear. When he lost that faith (because of his surroundings), he called upon the Lord, and Jesus immediately came to his rescue.
Friends, while following Jesus, we will embrace a journey of circumstances; they prove that our faith is beyond natural limits. By Peter’s obedience in leaving the boat, he opened the circumstance for his testing and exercising his faith, even in ‘troubled waters.’
How can we apply this to our lives today?
- Pray for the strength to trust God, even when it’s hard: Life is filled with successes and trials. It won’t always be easy, and that’s alright. Sometimes trusting God is hard, but praying to Him for the strength to trust and have faith in Him helps us maintain that faith amid the winds and rough waters.
- Cry out to the Lord when we falter: We make mistakes. So, when we fall, we are given the freedom to come back into His throneroom and to His mercies that are new every morning. Testing our limits by faith is never joyful singing, and when we happen to falter, the Lord is waiting with open arms.
- Embrace circumstances as tests: Our mindset is everything. Seeing our challenges as tests, rather than punishments, can push us to the limit and make us stronger soldiers of faith.
- Reflect on God’s Word/Discuss: What is the ‘boat’ in your life that you need to step out of in obedience?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being there even when I didn’t trust You completely. I ask that You help me to put my faith in You, and not rely on my own power. Give me the strength to not succumb to the circumstances ahead of me, but choose You. In the Mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Read: Daniel 3:16-18; Mark 11:22-23
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 38:13-22; Luke 8:1-18; Numbers 27:12-23; Numbers 28; Numbers 29:1-11