(Mat 14:22-33 NIV) Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. {23} After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, {24} but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. {25} During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. {26} When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. {27} But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” {28} “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” {29} “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. {30} But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” {31} Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” {32} And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. {33} Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
It is no new thing for Christ’s disciples to meet with storms in the way of their duty, and to be sent to sea then when their Master foresees a storm. Jesus did this so that God’s glory may once again be manifested and He may prove that His grace will take us through.
The disciples of Jesus were discouraged now that they did not have Christ with them, as they had formerly when they were in a storm (Mat_8:24). Therefore Jesus tested His disciples first with less difficulty, and then to greater, and so trains them up by degrees to live by faith.
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” The words take courage has also been translated be of good cheer by some translations. When we know that God is present in our situation, we need not be afraid. We can even be cheerful. When we do not experience joy, it is an indication that we have anxiety and we are afraid of how things will turn out. We have not fully trusted the Lord yet.
The disciples were surprised to see Jesus walking beside them on the water. But they should have realized that Jesus would help them when they were in trouble. When we are in trouble, God would respond with a miracle to help us in our situation.
Even after watching Jesus miraculously feed 5,000 people, His disciples were still amazed that Jesus could walk on water. If we ever doubt that Jesus can continue to do miracles in our life, we only have to look back at what He has already done. Think back of all those times when God has done miracles in your life. Faith is a mind-set that expects God to act. When we act on this expectation, we can overcome our fears.
When Jesus came to the disciples during a storm, walking on the water, He told them not to be afraid. We often face spiritual and emotional storms and feel tossed about like a small boat on a big lake. In spite of terrifying circumstances, if we trust our lives to Christ for his safekeeping, he will give us peace in any storm.
Peter started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves around him. His faith wavered when he realized what he was doing. We probably will not walk on water, but we may walk through tough situations. If we focus on the waves of difficult circumstances around us without faith in Jesus to help, we, too, may despair and sink. To maintain your faith when situations are difficult, focus on Jesus’ power rather than on your inadequacies. (Source: Life Application Bible)
Although we start out with good intentions, sometimes our faith falters. This doesn’t necessarily mean we have failed. When Peter’s faith faltered, he reached out to Christ, the only one who could help. He was afraid, but he still looked to Christ. When you are apprehensive about the troubles around you and doubt Christ’s presence or ability to help, remember that he is always with you and is the only one who can really help. (Source: Life Application Bible)
(Mark 9:24 NIV) Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Our Christian walk will be characterized by moments of faith and moments of doubt. During these latter moments when anxieties and fears set in, we need to ask God to strengthen us and help us to overcome our unbelief.
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
The storm came about so that Jesus could do a miracle and the glory goes to God. Once that has been accomplished, the storm will cease. When we experience storms in our life, they are for a purpose. God wants to do miracles in your situation and glorify His name. Your storms will not last forever. They will cease when God has been glorified.