“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Matthew 14:27

A lot of people have heard this popular Bible story of when Jesus was walking on water towards the disciples who were on a boat.  At first, the disciples were terrified and thought he was a ghost, only to be reassured by Jesus himself saying “Take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27  So, Peter being Peter, rather than trusting Jesus at his word, he tells him “Lord if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water”.  Matthew 14:28  Now, Jesus being Jesus, immediately responds with a simple “Come” Matthew 14:29 And that’s exactly what Peter does, because when Jesus says come, you come.  Peter then gets out of the boat and starts to walk towards Jesus on the water.  Miracle. “Then Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water (super casual just walking on water) and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:29-30 This is the part of the story where Peter gets a lot of criticism.

While yes, Peter had little faith when he started to sink, let’s not miss that Peter actually had enough faith to get him out of that boat.  Peter had faith big enough to have him step out onto the water, could you say the same?  But then, the world’s realities, truths, whispers started to creep in.  I see Peter in all of us.  God tells us to do something grand, out of the norm and we trust him, step out onto the water when he says “come”, but then just like Peter, the wind starts to pick up and the waves start to roar.  Just like Peter, he saw the wind and was afraid. We hear the world criticize us for what we are doing, we hear the negative comments, we see the skepticism on our families faces and we start to sink.  We have to have courage and faith enough to first get out of the boat, but then enough to have us start to walk on the water.  God’s call and invitation to “come” might seem really scary and might not make a lot of sense to anyone but God, but when God invites you, it’s in your best interest to go.  When you step out onto the water, you can be sure of two things, God’s got you and that’s when the attacks will start to happen.  The enemy will start to whisper every insecurity at you, make you feel afraid when the wind picks up, so we, like Peter, may start to sink. 

Peter gets so much criticism for having little faith when Jesus was right in front of him inviting him to come, yet Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat- which is more than all the other disciples could say.  We, sitting in the comfort of our homes, still sitting in the boat, may criticize how Peter could be afraid, yet we haven’t even stepped out onto the water.  Peter took a step into unknown territory, where God called him and we need to follow his example.  It may be scary, in fact- it likely will always be scary.  God doesn’t call us to easy, attainable things- he sees the bigger picture, the greater impact.  God is likely calling you to an unknown territory, it may not make sense to the world or anyone else around you, but if God himself is calling you, he will have you walk on water.  He will keep you afloat. 

When you start to sink, don’t look at the wind and the water and definitely don’t get back in the boat.  Instead, look to Jesus, look to the creator, the sustainer, the one who first invited you to “come”.  Matthew 14:29  His one word invitation of “come” is greater than the loudest road block, message, or criticism from the world.  While yes, Jesus said “you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31, we need to remember that little faith is still big faith.  Doubts may arise, and in that moment, Peter’s faith was little, Jesus did tell us that faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain.  In that moment, Peter’s faith may have lacked, that little faith still has great and mighty power.  When your faith seems little, look up.  Look at Jesus and let that little faith grow into the tallest tree, while finding rest and comfort in Jesus’ words, “take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  Matthew 14:27  God’s call may and likely will seem scary.  Storms will arise and he’s likely calling you to an uncomfortable thing, but we can trust that Jesus is right there with us.  He’s not going to call us to something and then leave us.  No, He’s there and He’s cheering you on.  We need to ensure that we put Jesus’ one word of “come” greater than the loudest denial from the world.  You too, can walk on water.