Matthew 14:29 — “So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”
To do anything great for God, yourself, your family or your community, you must walk on water! Now, before you reject my opening statement or over-analyze its meaning, allow me to encourage you to do some additional reflection.
Walking on water, while physically impossible for human beings is metaphorically required to accomplish our deepest desires, biggest dreams and highest hopes. Walking-on-water faith is a mindset that empowers one to believe you can do whatever you put your mind to. Walking-on-water faith acknowledges one’s belief that the impossible is actually possible. Walking-on-water faith requires us to get our comfort zone!
The comfort zone is a psychological state in which things feel familiar to a person and they are at ease and in control of their environment, experiencing low levels of anxiety and stress. The comfort zone is where our uncertainty, scarcity and vulnerability are minimized, according to Wikipedia.
The comfort zone is a silent dream killer. If we remain in the comfort zone for too long we become stagnant, and eventually the passion and courage needed to pursue and accomplish our dreams dies.
Matthew 14 details several key events in Jesus’ ministry. It is here we find the stories of John the Baptist’s beheading, the feeding of the 5,000 and Peter walking on water. The third story is our focus.
The Disciples see Jesus walking on water toward their boat on a boisterous sea and immediately are afraid, believing him to be a ghost. Jesus calms their fears by identifying himself. What Peter says and does next provides us with the practical lesson we can glean from Matthew 14.
First, Peter utters these timeless words: “Lord, if it be you, command me to come to you on the water.” Peter made a request. He wanted further proof that the image coming toward the boat was actually Jesus. This is usually where the water-walking-faith experience begins for us as well. We believe we are hearing from God, and we are determined to pursue what we are hearing to personally determine its validity.
Secondly, we see the reply. Jesus bids Peter to “come.” Jesus always bids us to come as a test of our faith. We say we have faith. But do we really? We say we trust God. We say we believe God’s word. But do we really? Faith requires us to trust Jesus’ reply. Faith requires us to step out of the boat. Faith will requires us to walk on water!
Finally, we see the response and the reaction. Matthew 14:30 notes: “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’” Peter became distracted by the waves and the winds of the choppy sea. Peter looked at the situation and not the Savior. Peter looked at the winds and not the One who bid him to come and walk on water.
In closing, Peter had water-walking faith. He stepped out of the boat on faith. He walked on the water toward Jesus by faith. But when he took his eyes off of Jesus, he immediately began to sink. And, so do we!
Water-walking faith is possible. Just remember, when you begin walking on water, keep your eyes on Jesus!
Dr. Preston T. Adams III is senior pastor at Amazing Grace Christian Church in Indianapolis. Contact Pastor Adams via email at seniorpastor@agccindy.org or via Twitter @DrPrestonTAdams. For more information, visit agccindy.org.
Dr. Preston T. Adams III
