This morning I was reading a little devotional thought about Jesus reaching out His hand to Peter when Peter demonstrated his lack of faith in the ‘walking on water’ story. (It’s found in Matt. 14:22-33 if you care to refresh your memory.)
Along with the author of the devotional I was reading, we are all quick to point a finger at Peter’s ‘lack of faith’ when he became afraid of the wind and the waves. I’ve heard many sermons on Peter’s obvious weakness when he looked about him at the storm and remembered his limitations. But I feel we need to step outside of this story and really take a look at Peter’s faith. Can you even fathom stepping out of a boat in the middle of the raging sea? In my estimation, that first step took more faith than I will ever know! I wouldn’t have enough faith to step out of the boat if the water was smooth as glass, let alone raging in the fury of a storm not yet spent.
If we really look at this story, I believe we must admire Peter for the great faith it took to step out of the boat in the first place; to trust Jesus’ word when He said ‘come’.
It makes me think of situations that have begun with great faith, but as the daily-ness of life makes us look around us at how ordinary we are and how tumultuous the world is that surrounds us, it is so very easy to lose heart and lose faith. It is easy to say to ourselves “What was I thinking? I can’t do this!” We see all the things that could go wrong, and how weak and puny we are, and suddenly we’ve taken our eyes off of Jesus and our own faith has become weakened and disabled. And, not to be disparaging, the world around us is crazy! We can’t accomplish anything at all in our own strength.
But the great faith that began with that first step continues with the outstretched hand. When Peter looked around him, he realized his own weakness and mortality and lack of power. But as soon as he looked back at Jesus, he saw the outstretched hand and he reached out and grasped it! And in that very clasp was his salvation.
Could it be that Jesus allowed Peter to look away intentionally, so that he would realize that the sea was too powerful for him? That alone, he was powerless to save himself?
Are you looking around you at the impossibility of all that surrounds you? Are you feeling small and weak and perhaps overpowered? Are you very aware of your inability? Look to Jesus, my friend! Reach out to Him and trust in His power and you will make it safely to the other side.