Peter walked on water until he looked at the wind: Matthew 14 and faith in the storm
Eleven disciples stayed in the boat. One climbed over the side onto the water. He sank, but he also walked.
The story is in Matthew 14:22 to 33. After feeding the five thousand, Jesus sent His disciples ahead by boat across the Sea of Galilee while He went up a mountain to pray. During the night, a strong wind rose, and the boat was “tossed with waves” (14:24).
A ghost and a request
“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea” (14:25). The fourth watch was between three and six in the morning. The disciples, exhausted and afraid, thought they were seeing a spirit and cried out. Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (14:27). “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water” (14:28). Jesus answered with one word: “Come.” Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
Sinking and the hand
“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me” (14:30). Peter’s attention moved from Jesus to the wind. The wind had been there all along; what changed was where he was looking. “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (14:31). Jesus did not wait for Peter to swim back. The rescue was immediate, and Jesus walked with Peter back to the boat.
When they climbed into the boat, the wind stopped. “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God” (14:33).
Lessons
Faith takes risks. Peter was the only one to step out. Focus matters. Fear grew when Peter looked at the storm instead of at Jesus. Failure is not final. Peter’s cry, “Lord, save me”, is one of the shortest prayers in the Bible, and it was answered at once. Name the storm you are facing. Then ask where your eyes are fixed. Pray Peter’s short prayer if you need to.
People often remember that Peter sank. They forget that for a few steps, he did something no one else in that boat even tried.
