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." 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. (Mat 14:27-32)
In the middle of the storm, Jesus calls Peter. Peter heads out. Good for Peter! But then, Peter starts to sink.
Why does Peter sink?
Why do we sink?
Well, the text says that Peter saw the wind and the waves. The wind is loud; the waves are scary. It's the wind'n'wave's fault!
But Jesus says, "Why did you doubt?" Jesus says that Peter has little faith.
Why does Peter sink?
Why do we sink?
Something shifted Peter's faith from Jesus to...where? Something about the wind and the waves revealed where Peter's faith had gone.
In the few steps he took atop the waves, Peter's faith stopped being in Jesus' ability to keep His Word, and started being in Peter and Peter's amazing courage and unique worthiness.
And as soon a Peter's focus shifted from Jesus to himself, he saw himself in relation to the wind and waves. And he was overwhelmed.
The wind and the waves will always overwhelm us.
The wind and the waves have never overwhelmed Jesus.
Why do we sink?
We trust in ourselves. We look to ourselves. With lightning speed we shift our focus from Jesus, to us, and then to our fears. And then we sink.
Keep your eyes on Jesus. And whether you walk on the water, or you descend to the depths, you won't have to be afraid. (Ps 95:3-5)
The glorious Beloved-Son is with you wherever you go, whatever you're in, and all will be well.
Photo by Torsten Dederichs on Unsplash
