Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.  But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14: 21-28

Peter and the disciples with him were following Jesus’ instructions. They were told to get in the boat and cross to the other side of the sea. Sounds easy enough, right? And no doubt, it would have been except for the wind and waves that were battering the boat.

Jesus walks out to them on the water. Jesus wasn’t undone by the wind and waves, He simply walked on top of the waves and headed towards the boat. Peter calls to Him and Jesus says, “Come”.

Peter started walking on the water to Jesus but then we read that Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the winds. And that is when he began to sink.

Nothing else changed in that scene, Jesus was still walking towards Peter, the wind and the waves were still buffeting them and the disciples in the boat. The only thing that changed was where Peter placed his focus. Instead of looking at Jesus, he looked at the waves and he began to sink.

I can certainly relate to this, how about you? Ever been trusting in Jesus’s word and faithfulness but still looking at symptoms, doctor reports, evidences that what Jesus promised isn’t manifested just yet. I have done that and got into negativity and unbelief because of it.

Good news is, I think Jesus is still saying the same thing to me today and to you that He said to Peter all those years ago.

“Come”.

His hands are reaching out, His word still stands, His promises are trustworthy.

Let’s learn from Peter and take our eyes off the waves and keep them on Jesus!

Father, forgive me for losing focus, for letting the evidence of lack take my eyes off of Jesus in whom there is no lack. Thank you for sharing this story in Your word and opening my eyes to what You are showing me in it. Help me to live this out, I ask in Jesus’ name, amen.

picture credit: Cheerioz