And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
The disciples found themselves in a storm. For those disciples who were fishermen (like Peter), this might have felt like just another trip at sea. This feeling quickly changed, however, when the desperation of the situation lingered. Scripture indicates that the disciples struggled in the storm long into the night. As fishermen, they probably awoke somewhere around 6am, and Scripture tells us that they were still fighting the storm between 3am and 6am. Tired and fatigued, they needed rescuing.*
As Matthew shares, Jesus appears on the scene, walking on water. Once the disciples decipher that this water-walking being may be Jesus, Peter tells Jesus to call him out onto the water to prove His identity.
As you may remember, Jesus does call Peter, and Peter walks on water, if only for a little while. Once the storm draws his attention from Christ, fear takes route and he begins to sink.
Interestingly, the storm does not calm when Jesus pulls Peter out of the water. The storm doesn’t calm when Jesus and Peter are making their way back to the boat.
The storm calms once they get into the boat. This is interesting.
How many times in life do we want the storm to stop while we are standing in the middle of it? We have stepped out in faith, we are doing what Jesus does, we have even lost sight of Christ in our storm and He has pulled us up. How many of us have called out to God to end the storm when we are walking through it? How many times has the desperation of your situation lingered? Tired and fatigued, you know that you need rescuing. Why did Jesus wait until they were safely in the boat to calm the circumstances? Why does Jesus wait in your story?
Could it be that Jesus wants you and I to understand that there are some storms that won’t calm until we are safely standing with Jesus? Could it be that Jesus has purpose in allowing us to walk through the storm even if we can’t see that purpose?
Jesus has a purpose for you in the storm, and He has a safe place of peace as well. We can learn to find peace in the boat of safety, but how much better to find peace in walking with Him on water in the storm?
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to trust Him in the storm. Perhaps God is inviting you to step out in faith onto the water. Maybe He wants you to step back into the boat to rest. Maybe God wants you to keep your eyes on Him.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 380–385, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 14:22–33) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).