I think we look at Matthew 14:25-34 in the wrong light. We look at the experience of Peter trying and eventually failing to walk on water in a negative light. We see that, and only remember that Peters Faith wavered, it was not enough furthermore we see him doubt! We look at this passage with disappointment on Peter’s failure to succeed. But was it a failure?
I am willing to bet you that Peter returned to that boat with more Faith than he left with! Especially having experienced Jezus rescue him as the waves were about to consume him!
Did his Faith in Jezus not grow? Not only that, but he was the second person (next to Jezus) to ever walk on water! Who cares even if it was only for a few steps. So why do we see this passage in such a negative light!? I believe this reflects the Faith growing experience, and life with Jezus. Are we not called to live on the edge? To test the limits of our Faith! I am convinced that our Faith only grows under circumstances past its current capacity. That is the paradox of Faith. It only happens by pushing the limit. This world, and physics would say that walking on water is not possible, because it is in fact impossible. Yet Jezus said “come”. Thus Peters faith brought him closer to Jezus, further away from safety and eventually peetered out (haha pun/ Jezus juke?). Only to be rescued by Jezus. I believe that is the moment his faith grew!
That is what I am trying to do on this journey.
What am i trying to do? I am trying to walk on water. Live by faith, and trust in Jezus’s rescuing hand when I abandon Faith for doubt. I have left the boat of safety and security and am walking towards Jezus despite the storm. I will fail,fall and doubt along the way. I know times where I already have. But I know that I will return to the boat (home) with more faith than I left with. I will know what it means to be rescued by Jezus and I will of experienced what it means to accept his invitation to live as he does. Without limitations, if even for just a moment.
What am I learning on this Journey? I am learning how to fail. I am learning what it means to be rescued time and time again. I’m learning to call out to Jezus as my need for him grows more and more urgent. I’ve always lived with the mindset that I was alone. The orphan mindset of” it’s me against the world”. But the reality is it’s the world against Jezus, and I stand with him. By choice. The one who rescues the drowning. The truth is those who are in the world are drowning, and drowning alone. Calling out to the world for rescue, and no one is listening.
I’ve been there. I’ve even sunk to rock bottom. That is when I decided to call out to G0D. That marks the moment I was rescued, March 13th, 2014. So understand that I speak from a spot of being there. Anyone who knows me, knows my testimony is NOT just that of a sad lonely man, but of a sad lonely man who called out to G0D for a rescue because of his own self admitted stupidity, failings, doubts, and sin.
Do you know what happened!? I was rescued, more so I encountered the one who gives life, even to those lost, and already at rock bottom. Not only was I put in the safety of his arms, but I was given the power to Walk On Water (hint it’s faith in Jezus). To be the overcomer of the circumstances that overcame me and thus know what it means to be rescued. My life has never been the same, I have never been more enthralled with the author of life. It has led me through the adventurous, treacherous, dangerous path of life with Jezus. It has led me off the boat, and onto the water with the living G0D. I guess it is just a crazy love story of one who rescues the drowning, gives life to the lifeless, and hope to the hopeless. To believe and have faith in him, to follow him, no matter where it leads. That, is what it means to Walk On Water.
