One Bible story that I have really grown to appreciate recently, which is so rich in meaning and full of lessons we can apply to our personal lives, is entitled Jesus Walks on the Water.
Only with God’s perfect timing did a friend comment on a prior post of mine mentioning this story which had been floating around in my mind to pen some thoughts on. It didn’t come together for the week I was originally thinking but, with more of His perfect timing I then heard a sermon about this story enlightening me to even more great details that I might not have seen otherwise.
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 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?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” –Matthew 14:22-34 (NIV)
Photo credit by Leonard J Matthews under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)
Did you ever notice these different “key” thoughts about this Bible story?
–That Jesus MADE the disciples get in the boat by themselves. At first, alone without Jesus; it was all part of God’s plan.
–Jesus went to the mountainside by Himself to pray to God, His Father.
–Jesus prayed for several hours or prayed and then just stayed on the beach for most of the night.
–The wind was causing big waves which moved the boat about.
–Jesus went out to the boat sometime between 3 am and 6 am in the morning.
–Peter was brave enough to step out of the boat.
–More people came to believe in Jesus because they realized He was the Son of God.
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Even the storms in our lives are of divine appointment.
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Jesus MADE the disciples get in the boat without Him at first.
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Jesus sometimes creates the storms in our lives.
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When Jesus sent the disciples to the boat, He already knew how it was all going to work out; He was in control of the storm.
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Even when we can’t see Jesus in the storm we are going through, Jesus sees us!
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The disciples could not see Him clearly when He was walking on the water at first because of the storm and the darkness.
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The storms of our lives should remind us to stand on the promises of God.
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When the disciples first saw someone coming toward the boat, Jesus reminded them to not be afraid!
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Jesus comes to us in the storms of our life at just the right time; at our point of desperation; when we are broken to the core.
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Jesus walked on the water to help save the disciples from their fear of being overtaken by the wind and water.
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What we fear might be Jesus in disguise.
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The wind that brought the storm is the same wind that brought Jesus to them walking on the water.
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Jesus is above your storm!
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The same water that threatened to go OVER the disciples and the boat is the water that was UNDER Jesus’ feet.
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Our ability to walk on water during the storms of life depends on the focus of our eyes and heart; keeping them on Jesus.
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When Peter started looking at the wind, he was afraid and started to sink. When we focus on the obstacles or the storm and don’t keep our eyes and focus on Jesus we, too, will sink.
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Jesus responds immediately when we cry out in fear.
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When the disciples cried out in fear when they thought a ghost was walking on the water and when Peter began sinking crying out to Jesus “save me”, Jesus IMMEDIATELY responded!
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Jesus listens to even the shortest of prayers.
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Peter only had time to cry out three words, “Lord, save me!” in his moment of desperation.
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Jesus wants our faith to be greater than our fears or doubt.
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Jesus said Peter had little faith and asks him why he would doubt Jesus’ power.
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Jesus comes to us in our storms and enters the boat with us.
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Jesus got into the boat with the disciples after He took Peter’s hand.
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When Jesus is in the boat with us the storm eventually dies down.
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As soon as Jesus and Peter got in the boat, the wind died down. Yes, Jesus is in control of the wind and the water.
Photo credit by Leonard Matthews under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)
This week while walking through the storms in your life remind yourself…
…That Jesus is still sovereign over the storms in your life
…To trust Jesus even when the wind is still blowing and the waves are crashing around your boat
…To bring Jesus into your storm
…Walk on the water with Jesus focusing on Him
…Jesus is in charge of everything on this earth
…Jesus died on the cross with your storm on His mind!
Jesus extending His hand to you in the stormy waters. Painting credit: Jared Emerson
In closing these thoughts this week there is a song that I thought was quite fitting to share with you.
Click here to listen to Undertow by Dave Pettigrew, an indie artist whose heart is to bring Christian music to the Northeast. My life has been blessed through his music and devotionals.
Let this song remind you that Jesus does not let go of you…even through your storm!
O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. –Psalm 89:8-9 (ESV)
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. –Psalm 107:28-30 (ESV)
The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. –Nahum 1:7 (NLT)
Blessings be upon you in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Wow. There’s truly so many really amazing pieces of insight in this post. As I was reading this, a reoccurring saying kept going through my head. “Lessons from the storms.” Sure, it’s the changing of one word, but it’s like God is telling me that He wants me to learn from the storms as well. Like learning how to depend on Him as a reliable source of strength to bring me through. Like trusting in Him versus believing what my emotions are telling me in that moment and time. Peter must have trusted in Jesus, because he took a walk of faith on the water and then immediately began to sink into the water once his outlook was on the surroundings. Note that Jesus was still surrounded by the same environment and it did not waver Him.
Peter’s sights were set on his fright and not on the only One who has ALL power and might. A couple other things come to mind after reading this post and you may be familiar with them. The first is to not allow my circumstance to affect or determine my stance. And the other is to not allow the opposition to affect or determine my position. If I am “standing firm” on what He says is true and not on what my emotions are telling me, then, I will remain steadfast and immovable (and I certainly won’t be sinking.) A stance is a position. Standing firm is positioning myself to not get tossed to and fro by the winds and waves of life’s storms. The only way I can do this is by positioning myself IN CHRIST, by allowing Him to be positioned on the throne in my heart (where the mind, will and emotions are.)
Another thing that comes to me after reading this is that Jesus got back in the boat. The boat is actually a symbolic picture of our heart. There will be seasons where it seems like we’re all alone, going on this journey as if we’re by ourselves (but, we aren’t truly alone; it just “appears” that way, because at times, that’s our outlook). Perspectively speaking, it’s easy to look at what’s happening to us and immediately determine that God isn’t there or perhaps He doesn’t care. Lord knows, I’m guilty of this on too many accounts. But, what if it’s not that it’s “happening to us”, yet, rather, it is happening FOR us. The word explicitly indicates that God is for us. He does it for our good whether it seems or appears or feels that way or not.
Going back to that “the boat is a symbolic picture of our heart.” The Word states in 2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”–NKJV– It’s His power at work to transform our hearts, to shape and mold us AS HE SEES FIT. God said at the very beginning of creation: “let us make man in our image.” Never ever will things end up the way we “imagined” them, because God does everything according to His good plan and purpose for us. If you continue reading 2 Corinthians 4:8-12, it talks about being hard pressed; (need I say ouch?) But the scripture indicates that we are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. (I for one will admit, I’ve “felt” like I was getting crushed.) Continuing on it says, “we are perplexed” (as in confused and beginning to question things), “but not in despair.” (I don’t know how many times I ‘felt’ desperate to get out of it.) Reading some more it states: “persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed.”
If I recount every time I based it upon what I “felt” in the very moment I was going through it, I think I can honestly say I lost count how many times I depended on my feelings and not my God. It truly feels like “I’m dying” in every scenario similar to these experiences and this is because SELF NEEDS TO DIE, SO THAT CHRIST CAN LIVE. It’s a painful dying to self process of Christ’s progress coming to life and fully live in me. (Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
#1.) It draws me closer to Him and shapes me into being more like Him. #2.) It is necessary and needed to strip me of selfish notions and sets Christ’s life as a priority in motion into my heart and life. #3.) It places my focus where it needs to be (making Christ my sole priority and embracing Him as my SOUL provider). Everything leads back to Him. He gave me life so that I can live for Him. He saved my life so that I can point others to Him who is the only One that truly saves.
Beyond the clouds and storms of this life, HE IS STILL THE SON who shines. And even though we don’t always see the light, it doesn’t mean that Christ’s light isn’t still shining. In the natural, it is easy to see the clouds and the storms that rage, yet not as easy to see the Sun. But, He’s the God who created the Sun and who says: LOOK PAST THE HORIZON AND LOOK PAST THE EXTERNAL, AND LOOK TO HIM, THE ETERNAL, EVERLASTING GOD. He’s the God who sees what we cannot see in the moment and He is there even in those moments it doesn’t seem like it. He’s the God who walks through the circumstance and He’s the God who walks on the opposition. So, let us STAND FIRM and POSITION ourselves in Him, for He will see us through it.
We were put into the storms, so that we can come through them and out of them much more dependant in trusting Him. Feelings will falter. But faith will hold steadfast. May the Lord wash over you in the waters of His Word and may He bring springs of refreshing and renewing in you and through you, all to the Glory of God. Be blessed and refreshed in the streams of His sweet rest.
I’m so glad you read this one, Christopher, as I know this story keeps popping up for you! 🙂 Wow~~It is so great to read how God is speaking to you through reading my simple words; I do definitely agree that the title could easily be “Lessons From the Storm!” That is perfect. I so agree with the points you share too…they are spot on; such great truth. Many thanks for sharing and the encouragement you share. May God continue to speak life into you and reveal Himself in your life. Keep seeking Him as He leads you day by day!