In Oceans Deep

“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid.’

And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’

So He said, ‘Come.’

And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”

~Matthew 14:27-32, NKJV

I cannot seem to stop thinking about this passage of Scripture.  There is so much of my current story in this little section, but the part that has me thinking and pondering, is the part that is left out.  Verse 32 says, “And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”  So for some distance, long or short, Peter walked on the water.  With Jesus.  Through the storm.  Everyone always talks about Peter’s faith to get out of the boat, and his moment of being overwhelmed and taking his eyes off Jesus and sinking, and Jesus saving him immediately.  But what about the part where he actually walks on the stormy water with Jesus?  Hand in hand, I’m guessing.  Shoulder to shoulder.  Peter, now fully depending on and trusting in Jesus, not to quiet the storm, but to get him through it, back to the boat. 

 

And what is all this saying to me?  I’m not sure yet; I’m not done dwelling here.  But I know I am encouraged by Peter’s moment of overwhelm, of succumbing to his circumstances and falling.  And then, after crying out, Jesus responds with all of His Lordship and authority and, hand in hand, they continue through the storm.  Peter walks fully in the grace and power of God—and he walks on water in the storm.

Peter’s story is mine in many ways.  I saw Jesus in the unclear and stormy waters of adoption as we pursued ways to grow our family.  I called out to Him—if this is You, Lord, tell me to come to You.  He did, time and time again.  The storm swirled from adoption to foster care and still He said, “Come!”  So we stepped out of the boat of our safe little world and headed into the storm where Jesus was.  I took a few steps and then the wind blew and the salty waters hit me in the face, stung my eyes and threatened to choke and drown.  What was once solid under my feet gave way to murky, stormy waters and I sank—hard and fast.  Like Peter, I cried out to the Lord and He pulled me up, but unlike Peter, I would catch a glimpse of His love and grace, catch my breath, and then sink again—overwhelmed by the storm rather than my Savior.  I think, in crying out, I kept hoping for Him to pull me out, to calm the storm, to make it all go away, to bring peace and safety to our home again.  I just kept treading water, barely staying above the surface, praying and waiting for God to heal, for a miracle, and, if I’m honest, wondering why He wasn’t coming through, why He wasn’t fixing everything.  But Jesus has been there all along, with hand outstretched saying, “Come!  Walk with me.”  He wants me to take His hand so I can walk with Him on the water—through the storm.  I can stop treading water, and walk fully in the grace and power of God.  Gripped by Love and Peace.  Hand in hand.  Shoulder to shoulder. 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you…

For I am the LORD your God,

The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…”

~Isaiah 43:2,3