Life often presents us with moments when the future seems uncertain, and the path ahead is unclear. In those times, we are faced with a choice: to walk by faith or to be paralyzed by fear. The Bible teaches us that faith isn’t about seeing the whole picture; it’s about trusting God, even when we can’t see what’s coming next. One of the most powerful illustrations of this truth is found in the New Testament, in the story of Peter walking on water.The story begins in Matthew 14:22-33 (NKJV), where Jesus sends His disciples ahead of Him in a boat while He goes up on a mountain to pray. Later that night, as the disciples were struggling against the wind and waves, they saw Jesus walking toward them on the sea. At first, they were terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost. But immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27, NKJV).Peter, always bold, called out to Jesus, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28, NKJV). Jesus simply said, “Come.” And with that, Peter stepped out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus. Imagine the faith it took for Peter to step onto the stormy sea, trusting that he would be able to do the impossible because Jesus had called him.However, as Peter walked, he became distracted by the wind and the waves. His focus shifted from Jesus to the danger around him, and he began to sink. In his fear, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31, NKJV).Peter’s experience is so relatable. How often do we start with strong faith, only to falter when life’s challenges overwhelm us? We begin our walk with Jesus full of confidence, but when the winds of doubt and the waves of fear arise, we find ourselves sinking. Yet, the beauty of this story is that Jesus was right there to lift Peter up. He didn’t let Peter drown in his doubt; instead, He caught him and brought him back to safety.This story teaches us that faith isn’t about never experiencing doubt or fear; it’s about knowing who to turn to when those feelings arise. Jesus is always ready to catch us when we call out to Him. He doesn’t condemn us for our moments of weakness; instead, He invites us to keep our eyes on Him and trust in His power.In our daily lives, walking by faith means keeping our focus on Jesus, especially when life gets tough. It means choosing to trust God’s promises even when our circumstances suggest otherwise. Here are a few ways to strengthen your faith walk:
Faith doesn’t mean we won’t face storms, but it does mean that we don’t face them alone. Just as Jesus empowered Peter to walk on water, He will empower you to overcome the challenges you face. So, when the winds blow and the waves rise, remember to keep your eyes on Jesus. Trust in His unfailing love and let your faith carry you through the storm.In the end, it’s not about the size of the waves, but about the greatness of the One who calls you to walk above them. Keep walking by faith, not by sight, and trust that Jesus will guide you safely through.Have a blessed day,Pastor Mike