You can’t walk on water until you step off the boat

You may have heard of the story of Jesus walking on water many times. I have too, but just recently I have begun to look at it a little differently.

The Story: Jesus left the disciples to go spend some time with God by himself.  While Jesus was praying, the disciples were on a boat in the midst of a storm. Jesus began walking on water to meet them, and when the disciples saw this, they were terrified. Yet Jesus called out to them saying it was him and to not be afraid.  Peter, being so bold, told the Lord that if it was really him, to command him to come out on the water.  Jesus said one word: “Come.”  So Peter got out of the boat and walked on water towards Jesus. Yet then Peter looked to the crashing waves and the darkness of the storm, and he began to sink.  Jesus reached out his hand and saved him.  Then they went back onto the boat, and the storm was calmed. (see Matthew 14:22-33)

Usually, I’ve heard sermons and even talked myself about the faith it took Peter to walk out on the water, and how we must not focus on our circumstances and the waves crashing around us and instead focus on Jesus.  While that’s very true and has been a passage that has encouraged me, I want to take a different look at the story.

Peter was bold to ask Jesus to command him to walk on the water — that took faith. That took guts.  When Jesus says, “Come”, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. We so often focus this story on how he walked on water. Yet, in order to do that, he first had to get out of the boat.

How often are we stuck in our own mindset, our own routines and our own comforts that we make for ourself? Do we have the faith to leave what we know – leave what we think is safe – to go out onto the unknown and face the treacherous seas, trusting that Jesus will be there?

There will be times in life where we need to get out from our own comfort zones and step off of the boats we’ve set up for ourself and overcome our own fears by stepping onto the water. You can’t walk on water until you’ve stepped off the boat.

Another beautiful part of the story is that once Jesus saved Peter from sinking, they went back to the boat. And when they did, the storm stopped.

We may be terrified to leave our boat. By doing so, we are leaving the way we believe we will be safe and stepping out into the unknown and dangerous seas. Yet, it is through letting go of our own desires, plans and ways where we meet Jesus.  And even if we start sinking, he will be right there to lift us out of the waters.  And together you will go back to the boat and find that the storms have stopped. The seas will be calmed. And you will be with Jesus yet again.