Get Out of the Boat

Matthew 14:22-23
Jesus had finished feeding the five thousand. Her turned to His disciples and said,
“Get in the boat and go over to the other side.”

Jesus didn’t tell the disciples all they would encounter before they reached their destination. If Jesus said they were to “go over to the other side,” He already knew they would make it to shore safely. However, a storm arose into their voyage and fear began to paralyze their faith.

In the passage we read that a storm suddenly came up and their boats were battered by the waves, and at that moment their minds no longer recalled what Jesus had said to them before getting into the boat; nor did they remember the powerful miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand that they had just encountered on that same day.

When their boat became battered by the waves and wind, they cried with fear. However, Jesus came to them mastering the sea, for He was walking on the water. When Jesus spoke, “Take courage it is I, do not be afraid” the sea was calm and peace surrounded his disciples.

Peter, in this account of the stormy sea, cried out, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Peter made a step of faith and got out of the boat; that is more than some of us will do. “But seeing the wind” - He looked down when He should have been looking up.

That is a Word for us today. Do not look around, look up, gaze at who is in front of you; His name is Jesus, The Sea Walker.

Haven’t we all been there? Or, maybe I should say how often have we been there? Don’t you feel at times you are tossed into the sea of life not knowing how you are going to make it? You are having financial problems; you have lost a loved one or they have become very ill; you receive bad news at an unexpected time; your marriage is slipping away; you have lost your job and family issues cannot seem to be resolved.

Keep in mind today that we serve a God who cannot fail and, if we are trusting in Him, we can always be sure He will take us to the other side. God allows us to pass through (not always snatching us out) so that through the process we will learn to trust in Him. Then once again He reminds us, it is God who must charter our course on this sea of life. The words of our Lord echo once again, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” His light will guide us by dispelling the darkness as we travel to our destination. HE is the Lighthouse.

There can definitely be peace and direction in the middle of the storm when God is there with us. Remember, what God says HE will bring it to pass!