Big Faith in 2019
The parable about Jesus and Peter walking on water has encouraged me to step out of my many boats (comfort zone). There may be a lot of takeaways from this parable, but I want to share mine and encourage you to apply what works for you.
"...But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid. And Peter answered him, “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come...." Matthew 14:22-29 (ESV)
Can we focus on what Peter did? He asked Jesus for permission to walk on water and of course Jesus told him, YES and Peter took a step of faith outside of his comfort zone, the boat. He believed he can walk on water and he did it. What are you believing to do in 2019?
He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:29-33 (ESV)
Once Peter reached Jesus he took his eyes off of Jesus and was now focused on the storm. Did you take your eyes off of Jesus? Are you focusing on your storm? Peter started to panic and started sinking. Something we all do when we are going through a storm. He took his eyes off of Jesus which was his help to even make that first move. We can't reach Jesus and think we are good. We have to keep looking to our help to get to the next place.
Whenever we experience new and unknown things, we can have the same experience as Peter. We start to panic, have anxiety, and all types of thoughts say we can’t do it, that it can't be done. But Jesus tells us what we should do in those moments. First, he expressed to Peter that he had little faith. Second, he expressed, that he doubted. What he told Peter should serve as a reminder for you.
Jesus doesn’t want us to have little faith but BIG FAITH. Jesus doesn’t want us to doubt but TRUST. Remember Peter was already with Jesus at this point. He did the hard part which was to step out and walk on the sea. He fought off those thoughts of him not being able to take the first step. He did it!
I obviously don’t know what you are doubting or have “little faith” for. But whatever you are experiencing replace your little faith with big faith and continue to walk on that water. Don’t pay attention to the storm. Continue to look to your help. In the parable, Jesus was experiencing the same storm as Peter as they walked back to the boat but Jesus was unbothered by it, so you too should be unbothered and not afraid. I know it hurts, I know it's hard, but you got this. The same way you got out is the same way you are getting back. With Jesus telling you to come.
