Identify WHO is in Your Boat
- When the waves are taking you under—HE KNOWS.
- When the wind blows so strongly against you—HE KNOWS.
- When your fear seems so strong and your faith seems so weak—HE KNOWS.
- When your faith seems to be faltering—HE KNOWS & HE’S THERE IN YOUR BOAT.
I am not sure what you are facing, but let’s be honest: We are ALL facing “something.” & Oftentimes, the “something” we are facing seems LARGER than our FAITH.
Take for example:
- A Career Change, one that takes you far out of your comfort zone.
- A Relational Change, one that causes you to dwell on the loss.
- A Health Scare, one that makes you feel that you are on an island, all alone with THIS.
- A Marriage Stumble, one that requires you to look closely at what you really value.
- A Decision Looming up ahead, one that seems to take away your breath.
Despite the “something” you are facing, let’s nail down one important fact—JESUS KNOWS EXACTLY “WHAT” IT IS YOU ARE FACING & JESUS KNOWS EXACTLY HOW THIS FEAR IS AFFECTING YOUR FAITH!
JESUS—KNOWS—AND—JESUS—IS—THERE—RIGHT—BESIDE—YOU—IN—YOUR—BOAT!
“Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand
(The Gospel According to Matthew 14: 31-33 NASB)
and [immediately Jesus] took hold of him,
and said to him,
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying,
“You are certainly God’s Son!”
- Maybe, like me, you have read this biblical narrative and judged Peter wrongly.
- Maybe, as I have done, you have seen this re-telling of Peter’s faith and only focused on his fear.
- Maybe today is the day to see the TRUTH of GOD found deep within Matthew’s gospel.
FEAR & FAITH OFTEN CO-EXIST.
FAITH & FEAR OFTEN WALK TOGETHER.
JESUS understands our humanness & JESUS is with us & JESUS is “certainly God’s Son!”
Let’s unpack this for a moment by asking ourselves some questions:
- What fear are we facing that swallows our faith?
- What fear limits our trust?
- What winds in life pull us out into deep water?
FEAR & FAITH—Each trial we face reveals we have faith.
FAITH & FEAR—Each trial we face challenges our faith.
Jesus had just fed the huge crowd of 5,000+ and sent them home. Then Jesus told His disciples to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. That’s when Jesus found some alone-time “by Himself to pray.” There is a lesson there for sure.
As with most days, a storm came, one that rocked the disciples’ boat.
Just like us, when the disciples looked at the storm & felt the strong winds, they saw how far away they drifted from the safety of the shore.
As predicted, “they cried out in fear.”
“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 14: 27 NASB)
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
If we are honest, at this point, we take our eyes off Jesus in the narrative and look to Peter, first seeing the miracle of Jesus as Peter walks on top of the water, but also seeing Peter’s lack of faith, when he looks down at the water and begins to sink.
Today, let us see more in our reading of Peter’s faith & fear.
Let us see, instead the TRUTH of JESUS & IDENTIFY WHO IS IN OUR BOAT!
Jamie Grace & Morgan Harper Nichols sings “Here,” a melody that speaks this truth.
- Jesus led Peter to get out of the surety found inside the boat and do something miraculous!
- Jesus led Peter to leave his comfort zone and take steps of faith, as he walked across the water!
- Jesus led Peter to look to Him instead of the strong wind and tumultuous sea below his feet!
When Peter took his eyes off Jesus and felt the water on his feet & when Peter looked down & when he felt the wind fiercely blowing & when Peter began to sink into the deep water—
We see the beautiful compassion, care, & concern Jesus has for His disciple, Peter.
“Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand
(The Gospel According to Matthew 14: 31-32 NASB)
and [immediately Jesus] took hold of him,
and said to him,
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.”
- When we are afraid, this not an absence of our faith.
- When we are filled with faith, this does not mean we have an absence of fear.
FEAR & FAITH CO-EXIST!
Oftentimes & possibly ALL times, our walk of faith REQURES we do God’s will—even though we are afraid. (of failing, of looking foolish, of falling, or of . . .)
- Jesus did not rebuke Peter’s faith. No, Jesus rebuked the wind, making it stop.
- Jesus did not question Peter’s faith. No, Jesus questioned why Peter did not trust HIM.
Even when afraid: of the trial we face, of the struggle we are walking, or of the step of faith we are taking—Let Us—
- Take a step of faith, stepping out of our comfort zone and TRUST JESUS!
- Take a step of faith, naming out what we fear, exposing it, even though JESUS ALREADY KNOWS!
- Take a step of faith, crying out to JESUS, realizing that fear and doubt give us opportunities to lead us to a stronger faith in JESUS!
- Take a step of faith, allowing others to join us in worshipping Jesus, helping us to remember JUST WHO JESUS REALLY IS—GOD’S SON!
- FEAR MAY BLIND US TO GOD’S PROMISES.
- FEAR MAY CAUSE OUR FAITH TO FALTER.
LOOK TO JESUS!
- LOOK TO HIS PROMISES TO BE A WITNESS TO OTHERS!
- TRUST GOD IN ALL SITUATIONS, STRUGGLES, TRIALS & LIFE EVENTS!
“And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 14: 33 NASB)
“You are certainly God’s Son!”