In Matthew 14.22-33 we read the spectacular story of Peter walking on water. Lloyd-Jones writes that, simply, that whatever is going on around us we can be confident and we can be calm as long as we are looking at, and as long as are clear about, Jesus.
Peter is the perfect example for us here. He is bold, passionate, and ready for action (John 21.7). He isn’t afraid of hard work and he is ready to put his personal qualities to work for the Lord. However, as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus here he started to falter and to fall.
Peter was able to do the miraculous as long as he continually looked to Jesus.
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Peter’s passion and energy led him to make a quick decision for Jesus (not a bad thing) but when his focus shifted he fell. Many of us have experienced this: the urge to go further into our faith, go deeper in our understanding, go closer in relationship. We make a decision to do so (Matthew 14.28-29) and then when things become difficult or we experience distraction we feel bad we are not living the brighter future we envisioned for ourselves (v.30). We then doubt ourselves, maybe even our level of faith, and the spiral into spiritual depression is a very real possibility.
If or when this happens for us we need only do what Peter did:
“…starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him,
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?””
(vv.30-31, NET, emphasis added)
The next time we are caught looking at the waves we need only lift our eyes to the Lord (Psalm 121) and cry out, as Peter did, “Lord, save me!“. The response will be the same:
“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him…”
It might not be from walking on water, but Jesus stands firm and ready to reach out and catch us when we fall (Hebrews 7.25).
James Travis 