Wind and Waves
I love Peter. Whether or not we like to admit it, he’s so relatable to the human experience. He has such a big heart to follow Jesus, but his imperfections still show up a lot. Jesus’ love and compassion for Peter in these moments give us a picture of His love for us when we fall short, too.
Let’s take a look at one of the most classic Peter stories—when he walks on water to Jesus. After a long day of ministry, the disciples were told to cross the lake and meet Jesus on the other side. Night fell, and a storm came. Around 3 a.m., Jesus began walking toward them on the water. Of course, this is impossible for humans to do, and despite all the miracles they had already seen Jesus perform, the disciples were afraid this was a ghost—except Peter.
“But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”” Matthew 14:27-31
It’s one thing to notice and acknowledge the storm around us. Everyone on the boat knew they were in a storm. In a circumstance like this, our relatable friend Peter gives us a great example of what to do—and also what not to do! He did the right thing first by fixing his eyes on Jesus, brave enough to step out of the boat and experience a literal miracle because of his faith. But right in the middle of this miracle, as he witnessed the Lord’s power over the wind and the waves, his strong start came to a halt as his focus shifted to just how big the wind and waves were.
Friends, just like in this story, we have more opportunities than ever to notice the wind and waves, especially with the tiny glass rectangles we hold in our hands that give us access to news from everywhere in the world. Our world is in a big storm right now, and whether you’re looking at literal storm devastation from recent hurricanes in our country or wars happening overseas, it’s enough to make anyone feel panicked. Modern technology gives us the ability to have the Bible in almost any translation at our fingertips, while also providing us with world news, graphic photos of devastation, and unlimited access to conspiracy theories—all on apps designed to keep you scrolling. It’s harder than ever to not fixate on the waves.
Just like the storm Peter faced, Jesus is right here in the middle of it all. He isn’t surprised by the storm. He has authority over the wind and the waves—both literal and figurative—and He wants us to keep our eyes on Him. This is how we see miracles happen despite the size of the waves: it’s not by fixating on the strength of the storm, but by locking in on the One who has power over it all. This isn’t about choosing to be uninformed or living life blissfully unaware; it’s about choosing to lean extra close to Jesus when the waves pick up—putting down our phones, cutting off the news, and picking up our Bibles instead.
Jesus knew the storm was coming before He sent the disciples out on the boat, and He is fully aware of the storms we’ll face in our lifetimes, too. He is in control, and we can look to Him and trust that He has the power to help us, whether it’s the miracle of walking with us across the waves or commanding the storm to stop altogether.
Are you feeling anxious from “looking at the waves” for too long? What is one practical way you can spend less time taking in bad news and more time with Jesus? Maybe it’s swapping the habit of grabbing your phone first thing in the morning for reading your Bible instead, or replacing your nightly scrolling with prayer before bed. Let’s lean in with great faith, knowing that our Savior is bigger than the waves, and rejoice together as we see Him work miracles all around us as we trust in Him.
