Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on
March 9, 2015.
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
- Matthew 14:28-31
Yesterday I watched Peter walk on water. I'm being serious. His name wasn't Peter, and the physical surface may not have been actual H2O, but a man trusted God, took a deep breath, stepped out of the boat of his comfort zone and went walking to where Jesus called him. It was awesome. It was beautiful. It was filled with stumble starts, breaks in gait and a couple of near misses on the fall or sink front. But He did it. And I hope that today he's rejoicing in the faith he showed in the walk and the faithfulness of the Savior who called him and brought him safely through the stroll rather than doubting or beating himself up for any perceived imperfections or failures in how the walk was made.
It makes me wonder how Peter handled his stroll on the waves in the hours, days, weeks and years to come. If you're like me, you tend to focus on the fact that he got out of the boat and walked on water! How amazing! Sure he got out there and got scared, but it's so awesome that Jesus was right there. The second he cried out for help, Jesus reached out and saved him. When I look at Peter's story I see faith and grace and deliverance and the miracle power of God working in someone's life. That is what I saw yesterday as well, which is why I started this by saying that I saw Peter walk on water yesterday.
But what if I had been Peter. Well, first there's a good chance that part of Matthew 14 wouldn't have been written because I like the security of the boat. I'm not sure that I would have asked Jesus if I could come to Him. If Jesus called me, I'd like to think I would've stepped out in faith and obedience and taken a timid step onto the water, but to ask? Then, if I had done it exactly like Peter and my nature didn't come into play until after we got back into the boat and the wind stopped (v. 32), how would I have looked at what happened.
I would love to say that I'd go leaping and dancing and praising God at getting to walk on water and shouting of His saving grace. But I know me. That little part at the end of v 31 where Jesus says, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" would've killed me. Little faith? If I have to have more faith than it takes to step out of the boat in a storm and walk on water, I'm screwed. Lord, you might as well pull the plug now, because I'll never have enough faith to please You.
Or why did I get so caught up in the situation that I took my eyes off Jesus, got scared and started to sink? Seriously, I knew it was impossible when I started out, so like Jesus asked, why did I doubt? After the first couple of steps shouldn't I have been running on the waves in complete trust like a child who truly believes the pond is frozen enough to support his weight? Yeah I could beat myself up for that doubt and stumble for years, so much so that I never got out of the boat of my comfort zone again, at least not on my idea. Jesus calls, two or three times so I know that I know He wants me on the water? OK. I'll try to squash my fear and respond to His call. But that wondrous cry of "Lord, if it's really You out there in the storm of the unknown, in the impossible and far beyond the safety of the good ship Comfort Zone, if it's You, tell me to come, and I'll come!," that volunteering, it's probably not happening.
Peter continued to step out into the realm of the impossible. I don't know how often he answered the call and how often he asked to be called, but he walked on water more than once. I believe my friend from yesterday will step out of the boat again, and I suspect that it'll be easier and the walk a little more steady and confident next time. But they've inspired me. I want to get out of the boat. Even as I write the words of the last sentence my stomach tightened. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it, right?
I want to do more than obey and get out of the boat. I want to volunteer. I want to keep my eyes on Jesus and my stride steady, but if my eyes get on me and how impossible it is for me to walk on water and I start to sink, I want to be as quick as Peter to cry out to my Savior for help and deliverance. Then, when He saves me from my self and my fear, I want to walk with Him back to safety or on through to the other side of the sea, if that's what He chooses, and watch the wind stop blowing. I want to take the words of Jesus as a compassionate reminder that He's got this, He's got me. I don't have to ever doubt that. I want to see in His eyes the joy that He got from me wanting to come to Him and for getting out of the boat rather than beat myself up for slipping back into self. I want to dry off, hug Jesus, thank Him for saving me, and get back on the waves. Because it's on the waves that the miracles happen. It's walking on the water that shows others the power of God and the way to Jesus.
Lord, if it's You out there beyond my comfort, call me, and I will come. Help me, and I will walk, even through and on the impossible. Help me to keep my eyes on You and off me so that I will not fail, but if and when I do sink, be quick to save me and let me see the joy in Your eyes and not disappointment. Let my walk with You be so filled with the impossible that can only happen because of You that others call to You and get out of their boat. Thank You for calming the winds in my mind and life, for quieting the storms when I lean on You. Amen.
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