Tag Archives: peter walked on water

January 28, 2025 · 5:34 AM

Refocusing Your Eyes

I talk to people all the time trying to help them to convert their dreams to goals. I try to help them create a plan that is specific and has milestones along the way so they can see their progress. Everyone starts out with good intentions and they’re excited, but then life sets in. Things start competing for their time, and what was supposed to be used on achieving their goal gets spent on something else. The same thing happens with their energy and other resources. Distractions come in as they’re making progress and takes their attention off the goal. This is the unfortunate end to so many people’s journey to making their dream a reality. They take their eye off the prize and before they know it too much time has passed.

In Matthew 14, the disciples were in a boat headed across the Sea of Galilee following Jesus’ orders. As they were rowing along, headed for their destination, a storm came up and fought against them. While they were struggling to move forward, Jesus came walking towards them on the water. They all saw Him out there and He spoke to them to encourage them in their struggle. Peter then said, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water” (AMP). He wanted to get permission to get out of the boat and even asked Jesus to command him to move. Verses 29-30 say, “He said, ‘Come!’ So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” Peter was making progress when he got distracted by the storm and took his eyes off Jesus. He quickly called out for help and Jesus lifted him up and walked him back to the boat.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].” What have you stopped doing for the Lord because you got distracted? Today, Jesus is asking you to fix your eyes back on Him to complete the work. We’re all susceptible to life’s storms and distractions. We’re all guilty of taking our eyes off Jesus at times and stopping our progress. However, like Peter, we can look back to Jesus, call out for help and He will lift us back up to complete the work. It all starts with you fixing your eyes back on Him.

Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash

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August 21, 2024 · 5:33 AM

Being Vulnerable

Have you ever been in a group setting where the opportunity to be vulnerable in front of the group came up and there was a long pause of awkward silence? Inside you wanted to be vulnerable, but the voices quickly rushed in that said they were going to make fun of you, no one else would be vulnerable and that no one would like you if they knew that about you. Your heart started pounding through your chest. Your throat tightened up. You didn’t know what to do. I’ve seen. It go both ways in that group. One where everyone stayed silent and one where someone stepped out and shared. The one where the person was vulnerable opened the door to deeper relationships and stronger community while the other group stayed very surface level and growth was inhibited.

In Matthew 14, Jesus put the disciples in a boat and sent them across the Sea of Galilee while He remained behind to pray. That night, while they were a long way from Jesus, a storm blew in. The waves beat against the ship. The rain poured down and the wind was trying to impede their progress and push them backwards. Just then they saw a crazy sight that scared them. They saw someone walking on the water. Fear gripped their hearts. Was it a ghost? Was it coming to attack them? A voice called out trying to calm them saying it was Jesus. Peter, decided to be vulnerable in that moment of uncertainty and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (ESV). He wasn’t sure if it was Jesus, and he knew he couldn’t walk on water, yet his vulnerability allowed him to get out of the boat in a storm of rain and fear. He was the only one who walked on water that night.

In Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus gives us the opportunity to be vulnerable with Him. To admit you can’t do it on your own is hard. To say you need help isn’t easy, yet Jesus extends His hand to us the way He did to Peter that night as He began to sink and called out to Jesus. If you could carry the burden and do everything on your own you wouldn’t need faith or God. By going to Him, admitting you can’t do it and casting your burdens on Him, you’re giving Him margin to move in your life. You’re giving Him the opportunity to call you out of the boat onto a storm tossed sea to walk with Him. Will you be vulnerable enough with Him to do that or will you stay in the boat? One truly offers rest and the other a false sense of security. The more vulnerable you are with Christ, the deeper your relationship will be.

Photo by Egon Filkor on Unsplash

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November 28, 2022 · 5:27 AM

Calling For Help

My son is constantly asking questions. Sometimes we know the answers. Sometimes we have to look them up. Then there are times he asks questions no one knows the answers to. It’s often a constant barrage. We usually answer him from wherever we are sitting or ask him to come to us so we can hear him better. However, if he’s ever in trouble or there’s a problem, when he calls out, we’re on the move trying to get to him. We don’t just sit there and tell him to figure it out or ignore him. Depending on where he is, sometimes he can’t see that we’re on the way. It’s a similar relationship with God that we have as His children. He’s always listening to us and our prayers. Whenever we need Him, He’s there to help even when we can’t see Him.

In Matthew 14, the disciples were in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee when a storm popped up. They were doing all they could to keep from going under. Jesus had eyes on them, but they couldn’t see Him until He came walking on the water towards them. Peter felt safer with Jesus on the water than in the boat so he asked to join Jesus. As he walked toward Jesus, Jesus walked toward him. At some point, Peter became terrified of his situation and began to sink. He cried out to Jesus for help. Jesus reached out, grabbed him and walked with him back to the boat. When they got back in, the storm stopped.

Psalm 145:18 says, “You draw near to those who call out to you, listening closely, especially when their hearts are true” (TPT). God doesn’t expect us to go through our storms alone. He’s not far away when it feels like we’re going under. He’s waiting on us to stop trying to do everything on our own. Once we realize our need for Him, and call out to Him, He draws near to pull us up and walk with us through it. When we put away our stubbornness and pride that says we can do it on our own and call out to Him, He draws near to us, reaching out. It’s a point we all must come to in those times. He doesn’t want you to suffer. He simply wants us to recognize our need for Him and to want to be close to Him. Like a good parent, when we call out, He comes running, even if it’s on water.

Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash

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December 29, 2020 · 5:56 AM

God’s Got You

There have been times in my life where I’ve felt like I was slipping through God’s fingers. My life was in free fall and nothing was going right. This past year has felt that way for so many. I can think of a few friends who left secure jobs and income to chase dreams they’ve had their entire lives only to have the world shut down shortly after they did. I’ve had friends who received a diagnosis that changed everything. I also know people who have been hit with one thing after another and have been under a complete barrage of bad news and things happening to them. When these things happen, it can feel like you’re sinking or free falling, and you wonder if God has forgotten you. Panic can quickly set in and start making decisions for you. When I see friends going through these times, I usually pray for peace, wisdom and the assurance that God is in control.

I often think of the night that the disciples were told by Jesus to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They heard Him clearly and did what He asked. It didn’t stop the storm from coming. It didn’t stop the boat from taking on water. They were in His will and they were fighting for their lives. I love that in the middle of all that chaos, Peter had the courage to get out of the boat. I also love that he began to sink as he quit looking at Jesus and became distracted by everything going on. Why? Because it gave a great opportunity to show the heart of God. As Peter went into a free fall sinking, Jesus reached out and grabbed him. I don’t know what he was thinking, but I’m pretty sure it was, “Please don’t let go!” Jesus didn’t and they got into the boat.

In Isaiah 41, God was speaking to Israel, but I believe it’s for us as well. Verse 10 says, “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you” (MSG). If you’re distracted by everything that’s going on all around you and in your life, be like Peter, put your eyes back on Jesus and reach out to Him. He’s saying, “Don’t panic. I’ve got you and I’ve got a firm grip too.” You are not forgotten. God sees through the storm that has been surrounding you and threatens to sink you. He won’t let go no matter how bad things might get. God very often uses devastation to create new life. Just because things aren’t happening the way we think they should, it doesn’t mean He’s let go. He’ll help you and hold you steady through it all. Trust in Him, have peace, make wise choices and know He is in control.

Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash

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March 9, 2017 · 5:37 AM

Immediate Obedience 


One of the things my wife and I decided after we had a kid was that we weren’t going to use the Three Count Rule. We wanted our son to obey the first time we said something, and not for him to think he had until the count of three to obey. Our reasoning was that if a car was coming and he was running towards the road, we wanted him to obey immediately. Kids are often distracted and unaware of their surroundings. As parents, we are constantly looking out for his safety and need him to obey without understanding why.

You and I are not so different as God’s children. We get distracted by the things of this world and our lives. We have a Heavenly Father who watches out for us and asks for our obedience without our understanding why. Instead of obeying, we often argue or don’t do what He asks because we don’t understand the why behind it or because it just doesn’t make sense. We could all learn a lesson from Peter who obeyed without understanding.

In Luke 5, Jesus was teaching near the Sea of Galilee. The crowds kept pressing in until he had no more room to stand. Peter and his fishing buddies were there mending and cleaning their nets from an all night fishing trip. Jesus asked to get in the boat and to then have him push off land a bit so He could teach the crowd. After He taught them, Jesus asked Peter to go out a little further and then cast His nets. It didn’t make sense to Him because the prime fishing time had already passed plus he had already cleaned his nets. He was tired and wanted to go home.

In verse 5, Peter said, “Master, we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again” (NLT). He didn’t argue even though he didn’t understand. He simply obeyed. The result of his obedience was the catch of a lifetime. That trust he had in obeying Jesus, no matter what, also led him to be able to walk on water. He understood that God knows better than we do. He sees things we can’t see. We may not understand the why behind what He’s asking, but we still need to obey or we will miss out on some of His greatest blessings. 

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March 10, 2016 · 5:30 AM

Crazy Faith

  
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in Joshua 10. Joshua led the Israelites into war against five kings. As they were fighting, God threw hailstones from the heavens and killed more men than the Israelites combined. The battle continued to rage, but the daylight was going to end. That’s when Joshua stopped, looked up into heaven, and said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon” (Joshua 10:12 NLT). The next verse says the sun stood still until Israel defeated their enemies.

Can you imagine the kind of boldness, courage, and faith it took to make such a request? This is one of the greatest miracles of the Bible. God paused time so that Joshua could defeat his enemies. I love it when God shows off like this. To me, it’s Him saying, “If you can think it, I can do it. All you have to do is ask.” The problem is that I feel like I’m bothering God when I ask for something crazy like this. But God is sitting there wanting me to stretch my faith and ask Him for the unthinkable.

Ephesians 3:20 is a familiar verse to most Christians, and I love how the Amplified Bible writes this verse. It says, “Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].” God can do infinitely more than your wildest prayers, craziest hopes, and unrealistic dreams. He’s just waiting for you to trust Him enough to do it.

Many times I wonder if I’m asking God for enough, is my faith big enough, or do I trust Him enough. Joshua asked the sun to stand still, a widow asked Elisha to bring her son back to life, and Peter asked to get out of the boat. All three were granted because they were bold and courageous enough to ask. All three had the faith in God to answer their requests. If God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we could ever ask or think, I believe it’s time we had a faith that’s crazy enough to ask for those things.

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