October 21st, 2025
This week, I have a specific word on my heart from the familiar Bible story of Jesus walking on the water. This is a story often told in Sunday school and one most will have heard, but I encourage you to read it, even if you know it!
Matthew 14:23-33 says,
‘When evening came, [Jesus] was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come.” So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”’
We could talk about so many things in this story, but I want to talk about the faith of Peter. You may be thinking, “Don’t you mean his lack of faith?” See, we often focus on the fact that Peter began to sink, because he looked away from Jesus. He feared for his safety when he began to focus on the waves instead of the One who was standing on top of them. However, Peter stepped out of the boat. As far as we know, the other eleven disciples never knew what it was to stand on water. Peter began to sink, but at least he’d gotten out of the boat!
So many of us refuse to step out on the water for fear that we’ll mess up, but the miracle didn’t happen inside the boat. We see this pattern throughout the Word of God. Every man or woman of God in the Bible is distinguished by the fact that they refused to stay in the boat.
David didn’t choose the safe option when he ran toward a giant with a sling and five stones. An entire army of trained Israelite soldiers made the rational choice when they cowered in their tents while Goliath taunted them for forty straight days. Rationally, none of them could single-handedly fight a giant and prevail. David’s faith seemed ridiculous until the giant lost his head!
In the same way, Noah’s faith seemed absurd until the rain began to pour. The Israelites looked crazy marching around a city, until the walls of Jericho began to fall. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith seemed foolish, until there was a fourth man standing in the fire.
No one recorded in Hebrews 11, often called “the hall of faith,” is there because they played it safe.
Hebrews 11:32-34 says,
“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”
Their names are recorded in the Word of God because they refused to sit in safety and comfort when there was a promise on the other side of their obedient faith. It’s the same with Peter. He stepped out of the boat on the command of Jesus. He didn’t just dive out assuming it would work. When he heard the voice of the One he knew and trusted say “come,” he stepped out and saw the power of God. We have to remember this in every step of faith. You cannot fail if you step out on God’s command. His Word is strong enough to stand on, no matter how high the waves. See, Peter wasn’t perfect, and he did begin to sink, but at least he was out of the boat. His faith wasn’t as strong as it could have been, but it was enough to get him out on the water.
I think the most encouraging part of this story is the response of Jesus. We could focus on the fact that Peter began to sink, but I think the more powerful truth is found in his response, and Jesus’ response when he faltered. First, Peter didn’t try to tread water and tell Jesus he would fix it. He didn’t try to fix his eyes back on Jesus and climb back on top of the waves. The moment he began to sink, he called out to Jesus. This should be our response in every situation!
Jesus’ response is the most encouraging part of the story to me. He doesn’t make Peter try to keep his head above water for a few minutes to learn a lesson. The Bible says, ‘Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”’
Immediately. Jesus reached out immediately. He was there with a rebuke, but He was there immediately because He was already within arm’s reach. If you step out on the Word of God, what is the worst that could happen? Even if you falter for a moment, Jesus is always within arm’s reach. He lives in you!
This week, we want to encourage you to step out of the boat at Jesus’ command. Step out and do whatever it is you hear Him asking you to do. If you’ve been waiting in a place that seems safer and more comfortable, we want to remind you: no one in the Bible was commended for staying in the boat. His Word is always enough to step out on! How many times have you doubted in a storm, only to have God bring you through and say, “why did you doubt?” Peter could have walked on top of those waves the whole time if he’d kept his eyes on Jesus. He didn’t have to falter, and neither do you, but take comfort in the fact that Jesus never moved. The moment Peter cried out, Jesus reached out His hand. Don’t waste your life in the boat worrying what will happen, when He’s waiting for you on the water. Don’t waste your time doubting, fearing, and floundering in waves that He wants you to walk on top of! He is always within arm’s reach as you call out to Him. The safest place in the world is on the water when we step out in faith, because that’s where He is. Trust Him. He’s as faithful now as He’s always been and there are miracles outside the boat!
Matthew 14:23-33 says,
‘When evening came, [Jesus] was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come.” So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”’
We could talk about so many things in this story, but I want to talk about the faith of Peter. You may be thinking, “Don’t you mean his lack of faith?” See, we often focus on the fact that Peter began to sink, because he looked away from Jesus. He feared for his safety when he began to focus on the waves instead of the One who was standing on top of them. However, Peter stepped out of the boat. As far as we know, the other eleven disciples never knew what it was to stand on water. Peter began to sink, but at least he’d gotten out of the boat!
So many of us refuse to step out on the water for fear that we’ll mess up, but the miracle didn’t happen inside the boat. We see this pattern throughout the Word of God. Every man or woman of God in the Bible is distinguished by the fact that they refused to stay in the boat.
David didn’t choose the safe option when he ran toward a giant with a sling and five stones. An entire army of trained Israelite soldiers made the rational choice when they cowered in their tents while Goliath taunted them for forty straight days. Rationally, none of them could single-handedly fight a giant and prevail. David’s faith seemed ridiculous until the giant lost his head!
In the same way, Noah’s faith seemed absurd until the rain began to pour. The Israelites looked crazy marching around a city, until the walls of Jericho began to fall. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith seemed foolish, until there was a fourth man standing in the fire.
No one recorded in Hebrews 11, often called “the hall of faith,” is there because they played it safe.
Hebrews 11:32-34 says,
“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”
Their names are recorded in the Word of God because they refused to sit in safety and comfort when there was a promise on the other side of their obedient faith. It’s the same with Peter. He stepped out of the boat on the command of Jesus. He didn’t just dive out assuming it would work. When he heard the voice of the One he knew and trusted say “come,” he stepped out and saw the power of God. We have to remember this in every step of faith. You cannot fail if you step out on God’s command. His Word is strong enough to stand on, no matter how high the waves. See, Peter wasn’t perfect, and he did begin to sink, but at least he was out of the boat. His faith wasn’t as strong as it could have been, but it was enough to get him out on the water.
I think the most encouraging part of this story is the response of Jesus. We could focus on the fact that Peter began to sink, but I think the more powerful truth is found in his response, and Jesus’ response when he faltered. First, Peter didn’t try to tread water and tell Jesus he would fix it. He didn’t try to fix his eyes back on Jesus and climb back on top of the waves. The moment he began to sink, he called out to Jesus. This should be our response in every situation!
Jesus’ response is the most encouraging part of the story to me. He doesn’t make Peter try to keep his head above water for a few minutes to learn a lesson. The Bible says, ‘Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”’
Immediately. Jesus reached out immediately. He was there with a rebuke, but He was there immediately because He was already within arm’s reach. If you step out on the Word of God, what is the worst that could happen? Even if you falter for a moment, Jesus is always within arm’s reach. He lives in you!
This week, we want to encourage you to step out of the boat at Jesus’ command. Step out and do whatever it is you hear Him asking you to do. If you’ve been waiting in a place that seems safer and more comfortable, we want to remind you: no one in the Bible was commended for staying in the boat. His Word is always enough to step out on! How many times have you doubted in a storm, only to have God bring you through and say, “why did you doubt?” Peter could have walked on top of those waves the whole time if he’d kept his eyes on Jesus. He didn’t have to falter, and neither do you, but take comfort in the fact that Jesus never moved. The moment Peter cried out, Jesus reached out His hand. Don’t waste your life in the boat worrying what will happen, when He’s waiting for you on the water. Don’t waste your time doubting, fearing, and floundering in waves that He wants you to walk on top of! He is always within arm’s reach as you call out to Him. The safest place in the world is on the water when we step out in faith, because that’s where He is. Trust Him. He’s as faithful now as He’s always been and there are miracles outside the boat!
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