Matthew 14:22-33 covers the story of Jesus walking on water and also talks about Peter walking on water briefly until he started sinking and Jesus had to step in to save him. This story has a lot of parallels with every Christian’s walk with Christ. A lot of us can also relate to Peter in this story.

The story begins with Jesus sending his disciples away on a boat to the other side off the shore with Jesus going up the mountain to pray in solitude. After the boat left the shore the disciples found themselves in the middle of a storm and the waves were rocking their boat back and forth. All of a sudden they saw someone walking on the water and cried out saying that it was a ghost. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water,” Jesus asked him to come to him. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Jesus, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

We are all like the disciples in the boat of life. Our boat is surrounded by storms and sometimes we are rocked back and forth with the waves of this life. During these times do we forget about Jesus just like the disciples forgot about him? or do we cling to Jesus instead? Jesus was very close to them on the shore the whole time.  They had just seen the miracle of  Jesus feeding 5000 people before this incident had happened yet they couldn’t even comprehend that it might be Jesus coming to save them. The same can happen to us. We have all experienced the amazing things that Jesus has done in our lives yet when we are faced with the storms of life we cry out in fear instead and completely forget about the divine power of Jesus to save us from these situations.

Some of us are like Peter, we can tap into the divine power of Jesus briefly until reality sets in and fear of the situation makes us look away from Jesus, and as a result, we end up sinking instead. Jesus was still there to save Peter and when Peter cried out to him Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. This is exactly what we need to do when faced with the storms of life. We may forget about the divine power of Jesus and his power over nature and all things but if we muster enough courage to cry out to him amid our distress just like Peter did then rest assured Jesus Christ will be there to save you. Jesus will be there just like it says in  Isaiah 40:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

The amazing part of this story is that everyone in the boat started worshipping Jesus after he rescued Peter and stopped the storm. The same can happen in your life. Your story can be a testimony for other people. When they see how Jesus saved you and rescued you from your situation they will praise him also. In the end, Jesus will get the glory and that is the most important part of this story. God can always use any situation in your life to be a testimony for others to make them aware of his divine nature and this only happens when we put our trust in him and cry out to him every time we are faced with any storms in our life. To God be the glory!