Matthew 14:28-29

New King James Version

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So, He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

For Encouragement

He took the Lord at His word when He came walking on the sea and asked the Lord for permission to walk to Him on the water (Matthew 14:27). Jesus told Peter to come.

Now pause here for a minute. Think about you as Peter. Out of emotion, you ask Jesus for His grace to come to Him. Now He bids you come—on the water and in the night. The winds are boisterous, and the waves high and heavy, buffeting your boat. Now, step out of it and walk to the Master who calls you. 

I knew it! The questions: What if it is not the Lord and I sink? What if I didn’t hear clearly? What if …?

That is our dilemma—all of us. We courageously make confessions and declarations of faith in worship. The music is uplifting, and you are soaring in the skies—towards heaven’s gate. You are almost there, and the music stops. A voice calls you to come. Heaven’s gate is open to receive you. 

You look around and see your problem rushing at you, screaming to have their pound of flesh. The floundering marriage, the wayward child, the financial meltdown, the job situation, the boss who cares for no one, the mounting bills, the doctor’s report—they all come crushing on you, and your courage wilts. You come tumbling down.

Faith, my friend! Courage shows up in worship and prayers, but faith is the carrier that takes you for a walk on the water with Jesus. 

It takes tremendous faith to act on the command of the Lord. Ask Father Abraham. Ask all the heroes of faith down the ages of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, and they will tell you the same story. Faith is the victory that overcomes.

It is a matter of concentrated focus on the Lord—disallowing every distraction to agitate and incite fear in you. When Peter saw only Christ and heard the voice he knew so well, the boisterous winds and waves lost his attention. Close your ears with your fingers now and see how it feels around you. That was how Peter might have felt. 

All was calm, and he could only hear the resounding voice of the Lord calling him to come. He only saw Jesus ahead of him with a welcoming and encouraging smile.

That’s how it is when we focus on Jesus alone in life. The dangers will not go away. The threatening sound of the world does not cease. They become louder. But, so long as we focus on our Master who has bid us, come, we don’t see them. Peace becomes the calm amid the storm—a stillness so blissful, our walk becomes effortless. 

O, the lost concentration! The shifting of focus! It is a mind play—when the self boasts in the achievements. “Look at me!” We lose it there—when we shift focus. 

Thank God for grace. It keeps us up by the hand of the Almighty God and out of danger. Our faith may be small, but the hand of our Savior is big enough for us. He who bid us come has His eagle’s eye on us, and His hand is ready to pull us up before we sink. 

Just call to Him, and He will carry you across the lake to His safe abode. Amen!