I’m Out of the Boat, Now What?

Matthew 14:22-32 shares the story of Jesus and Peter walking on water.  In this scripture, a storm came up while the disciples were in a boat and Jesus had been alone in the hills praying.  Jesus began walking across the water to their boat, and when they saw him, they became afraid, thinking it was a ghost.  Jesus responded that it was ok, it was Jesus and not to be afraid. Then Peter called to Jesus and said, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water.” So Peter was willing to get out of the boat as long as it was the Lord commanding Him to do so.  First, Peter had to believe that it could be Jesus walking towards him. He may have had an ounce of doubt, but he believed in the possibility that it was Jesus. In that belief, Peter had to believe in the promise that God had sent His son and that Jesus was the Son.  See, if that foundation was not there, that exchange between Peter and Jesus could not have happened.

Peter was different than the others in the boat because instead of simply cowering in the boat afraid, Peter had the presence of mind to ask for confirmation that this was truly the Son of God who was speaking. That’s what we must do when we are uncertain.  We must ask. If you’re in doubt, ask.  It’s just that simple.  Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you;” ask for So Peter asked and Jesus answered him. Jesus didn’t hesitate or take time deciding if he should answer Peter or not.  Jesus immediately answered Peter’s question. Jesus told Peter to come.

The next thing Peter did was he “went over the side of the boat and walked on water towards Jesus.” Matthew 14:29b. Peter asked; Jesus answered, and Peter was obedient and got out of his boat and he walked on water. That’s how obedience to the Lord’s commands works. When we are obedient to his instruction, we can do things that we cannot do on our own. Peter was able to defy gravity and walk on water. I wonder what you can do.

The next thing that happened was Peter realized he was out in the sea with high waves – the storms of life – and his humanity got the best of him and he became fearful. His humanity said, ‘I can’t walk on water!’ His humanity said, ‘these waves are high and this is dangerous!’ His humanity caused him to focus on what was around him instead of the safety of the Lord’s command and promise that was before him. How many times do we start off on point with the Lord – reading, praying, believing and then we get busy?  We stay up late so we have a hard time getting up early to spend quiet time with the Lord.  We have to take our children here and there and there’s a project at work that HAS to get done and by the time we arrive home, we feel we deserve some downtime. Life happens and we stop carving out the time we once did for quiet communion with the Lord.  So what happens?  We begin to sink, just like Peter did.

So what do we do now? Our house is a mess, our finances are a wreak, nothing seems to be working in our favor.  What now? Do like Peter did. Cry out to the Lord!  Matthew 14: 30 says, “Save me, Lord! He shouted.” Acknowledge your humanity and unashamedly humble yourself and cry out to the Lord to take care of you. 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) says “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” Peter could write that scripture based on experience because when he cried out to the Lord when he was sinking, “instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him.” Matthew 14:31a.

So now that you’re out of the boat, stay focused on the Lord because even if you get busy and begin to sink, when you cry out to the Lord, remember Psalm 34:4 says “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears.” So know he is with you and will take care of you.