So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. (Matthew 14:29 NKJV)
Have you ever wondered how Peter felt as he climbed out of the boat and stepped down onto the water? What a moment! When he took his eyes off Jesus his fears overwhelmed him, and he began to sink.
While we won’t know the feeling of water underneath our feet, supporting us, we can still experience those walk on water moments.
All we need is a storm and a firm confidence in Christ. It isn’t necessary that we fully understand our storms because we know the Creator of the storm. Even better, the Creator of the storm is our Creator too, so He knows just how we will respond in that particular storm.
Much research goes into studying hurricanes. They begin as a wave off the coast of Africa. Hurricane experts continually track the storm as it travels. They gather information to help them predict the intensity and direction of the hurricane.
The storms of life resemble a tornado more than a hurricane. We have little if any warning. We’re not aware of its path either.
When a storm makes impact with our lives, preparation is key. People who live along the coast or in Tornado Alley understand what they need during a storm. Christians need a similar preparation.
First, do not crawl into the fetal position and cry until it’s all over. Also, don’t get mad at God. Run to Him.
Recognize the storm as a necessary part of your spiritual journey. That’s right, storms are good for us. Kind of like spinach or liver.
Storms not only mature us, but they make us more Christ like. Storms allow us to help others. My husband and I have shared valuable information with people who have struggled with leukemia. That’s a storm we have weathered.
Storms also have a way of readjusting our priorities. We’ve watched the news after a natural disaster while people share how they lost everything, but they are grateful their family survived. Storms of life have the same effect. A major illness can make your problems at work look small. A death in the family can put the brakes on an overloaded schedule. A serious accident can make your financial worries obsolete. And heaven always gets a little sweeter with each passing storm.
The storm also provides us with the opportunity to watch our faith grow. I wouldn’t call Peter’s urge to walk on water a leap of faith. It was a deliberate step of faith. One that took him out of the boat and down onto the water. How did it feel, Peter? Probably the same way it feels when we take those major steps outside of our normal. Those occasions usually occur in a storm.
We don’t have a warning system to alert us to impending squalls. But we can be as prepared as anyone can be when the seas rage around us.
Don’t run from God, turn to God.
Trust Him and realize when this storm passes, you will emerge stronger. You have survived the storm.
Lord Jesus, thank You for piloting us through life’s storms. Build a strong faith within me for that next storm, and help me walk on water. Amen.
DIG DEEPER
Read Matthew 14:23-33.
HIKING THE TRAIL
If you are traversing a storm right now, ask God to show you a walk on water moment. If you’re not in stormy weather presently, begin praying for the faith to take that deliberate step when it is your turn.
RELATED RESOURCE
Overcoming the Overwhelming: Walking in Victorious Faith When You Don’t Feel Victorious is a 30-day devotional that will enable you to draw greater strength from God and light a fire under your faith during those most overwhelming seasons. Learn more here.
Originally posted on July 27, 2020 @ 3:04 am