A few years ago, I was putting freshly folded bath towels into the linen closet when I heard the Lord say to me, “Tami, you’re looking at the water.”  It startled me, but of course I knew what He meant right away.  I knew why He had said it too…it was exactly what I needed to hear.  He was referring to what Peter did in Matthew 14…and what I seemed to be doing in my life at that time.

Jesus had just performed an incredible miracle of feeding 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish!  He told His disciples afterward to go ahead of him in a boat and cross the sea while he dismissed the crowd and had some time to Himself to pray.  Meanwhile, around 4:00 am, a wind came up and started rocking the boat pretty bad.  The disciples were afraid, but what made them even more afraid was seeing Jesus walking on the water toward them!  They thought He was a ghost! 🙂  They began to cry out and instantly Jesus told them, “Don’t be afraid…It’s Me.”

Feeling bold, Peter then said, “If it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”  Jesus said to him, “Come.”  Jumping out of the boat, Peter started to walk on the water to Jesus!!  Can you believe it?!   He actually walked on the water!!!  🙂  I love it!!!

But Peter…oh Peter…he then does something that he shouldn’t… something I’ve done all too often, I’m sad to say.  He takes His eyes off of Jesus… to look down at the water instead.  He suddenly sees it churning at his feet!!  It’s all he can think about!  Afraid, he quickly begins to sink!!  “Save me, Jesus!”  he cries.  Jesus doesn’t hesitate.  He reaches down, grabs Peter’s hand, and asks him what happened to his faith.  He basically says to Peter, “why did you stop believing?”  They climb into the boat and the winds stop.  The disciples declare “You truly are the Son of God!”

But I wonder how Peter felt as they sailed on.  In no way do I think Jesus was mad at Peter.  I mean, after all, Peter was the only one of the disciples who was brave enough to want to walk out onto the water in a windy storm in the first place!  And walk on windy water he did…until he took his eyes off of the One who controls the wind and the waves.  His focus shifted from Jesus to the rough seas.  He was, “looking at the water” and not at the One who only a few hours ago he’d seen feed the 5,000!!  I can relate, Peter!!!

If I were sitting next to Peter in that boat afterward, I would have put my arm around his shoulders and whispered in his ear, “Don’t feel bad, Peter…you actually walked on water with Jesus!!  How much EASIER it will be for you to do the same thing the next time!”

I want to walk on water too.  I want the boldness of Peter.  I don’t want to sit in the boat and focus on the stressful circumstances surrounding anymore.  I just want to focus on Jesus and watch Him do the miraculous!! 🙂  All I have to do is believe Him…

and oh yeah, “I won’t look at the water!” 😉