Walking on Water by Faith: Learning to Trust Jesus in Impossible Moments

Summary

Peter’s walk on water reveals how faith functions in the Christian life. Trust in Jesus enabled Peter to step out and experience God’s power, but fear and doubt caused him to sink. Faith acts as the conduit for God’s power and is visible through action. Though believers often fail, Jesus forgives and invites us to learn from those moments and step out again when He calls us to trust Him.

I have often joked that I can walk on water. I did best in January and February when lakes and ponds were frozen in my neck of the woods!

I don’t do very well at it the other ten months of the year. With the warmer winters the last several years, I can’t guarantee January and February anymore either!

Jesus Calls Us Out of the Boat

Jesus was able to walk on water whenever He chose. “About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water” (Matthew 14:25 NLT). The sight of Him terrified His disciples. He told them not to be afraid.

Faith That Floats for a Time

“Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.’ ‘Yes, come,’ Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus” (Matthew 14:28-29 NLT).

When Fear and Doubt Break the Connection

“But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me?’ (Matthew 14:30-31 NLT).

Miraculously, Peter walks on water. Let’s take a walk on the water side-by-side with Peter. What kept him afloat when he stepped out of the boat?

Initially, he believed God’s power, which enabled Jesus to walk on the water, could do the same for him. For a while, he was right. He got further on the liquid stuff than we ever have.

In his experience and Jesus’ explanation of his failure, we see a snapshot of what living by faith requires. “And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away” (Hebrews 10:38 NLT).

Peter sank because his trust in Jesus’ ability to keep him on top of the water waned when the wind and waves distracted him. Then, the difficulty and, oh yes, the impossibility of sustaining his water walking occurred to him. He doubted Jesus’ ability to fulfill his promise, “Yes, come.”

Walking on Water by Faith

The flow of electricity and God’s power both require a conductor. Faith is the copper wire of God’s power in the Christian life. Without it, we can’t please God (Hebrews 11:6). God rewards those who trust His power to flow through them by stepping out in faith.

Faith Made Visible Through Action

Jesus “saw the faith” of the four men who carried a paralyzed man on a mat, believing He could heal him (Mark 2:5). Faith becomes visible through the actions it initiates.

For a time, Peter was a conductor on the Sea of Galilee. Then fear and doubt rendered him nonconducting. Jesus chastised him for his minuscule faith. He was upset that Peter doubted His ability to keep him from sinking.

Learning From Peter and Our Own Failures

Before criticizing Peter’s failure, we should reflect on our failures. We have repeatedly doubted whether Jesus’ power could make us adequate in difficult circumstances.

Fear has paralyzed us when we could have been fishing for people. It has frozen us in place when we could have been loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.  It has sunk us and not allowed us to do for others what we would want them to do for us.

Like Peter, we are forgiven. Let’s learn from our failures. Let’s walk on the water the next time Jesus challenges us to join Him in a faith venture.

Photo: Image Creator (microsoft.com)