In Matthew 14, Matthew has an account of Jesus walking on water. When the disciples see Jesus, they are increasingly afraid, thinking He is a ghost. However, Jesus responds, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Matt. 14:27). This account of Jesus’ life has many great blessings and words of wisdom, but Jesus’ first words to His disciples were “It is I.” As Christians, Jesus’ presence should comfort us. Although the Sea of Galilee is not a huge body of water like an ocean, it is still pretty sizable. This distance seemed uncrossable by the disciples. There was no way Jesus could get to them from the other side of the sea. However, despite the distance and despite the fact that humans can’t walk on water, Jesus was there at His disciple’s side. The waves were still there and they were still high. The sea was still tumultuous, but Jesus was there. Despite everything, he calls them to not be afraid. The disciples have witnessed a miracle. Jesus has walked on water, and yet he calls them to not be afraid. Beyond everything, Jesus should calm our fears.
At this point, Peter steps out onto the water with Jesus. He stands there with Jesus against all odds. However, when Peter notices the waves around him, he starts to sink. When we focus on the tribulations and the trials and the hardships and the waves of this life, we will start to sink. I know we’ve all heard it a thousand times with this gospel story, and yet it rings true every time. Jesus does not call us to a life without waves. He calls us out onto the waves. However, we are not alone. Jesus is with us. And when we start to sink, we can reach out and grasp onto Him. When Peter calls out, Jesus is there, dragging him out of the water and placing him back in the boat. Life is not without struggles. Sometimes we feel like we’re just being hit by wave after wave after wave. It seems like we can’t get our footing; everything seems to be against us. We can’t stand alone. But again, we are not alone. Life will throw everything it has at us, but Jesus is there, and when we keep our focus on Him, we can take any wave—not through our strength, but through God’s strength.
After Peter has been saved by Jesus, Peter affirms something about Jesus. He simply says, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matt. 14:33). When life is hard, when the waves are crashing against us, we have the Son of God at our side. Sometimes that truth is so hard to remember. We all know who Jesus is, but it’s hard to trust sometimes. We don’t always trust that He has a plan. We don’t always trust that He’s there to help us out of the waves, that He is right there on the sea with us standing in the storm. One of my favorite Bible verses—Isaiah 26:3— states, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.” The story and this verse work so well together. When we stay our mind on Him, not on the troubles of this world, we have peace. This story begins and ends very simply, with a proclamation of who Jesus is. “It is I, do not be afraid.” “Truly, you are the son of God.” We need to keep these two truths in our minds. When we stay our mind on Jesus, when we see the waves but know our God is with us in them, we can take anything. Jesus does not forsake you. Whatever you are going through today, whatever waves are crashing against you, you are not alone. Jesus is right by you, ready to hold you up. Reach out, call out, and let Him catch you. Stay your mind. Welcome that perfect peace.
By: Olivia Rinaldo
Image courtesy: Daniel Wu