We often hear people say, “Dare to be a Daniel,” but I do not think I have ever heard anyone say, “Dare to be a Peter.” When we hear Peter’s name, we usually think of one of two stories: either Peter denying Christ or Peter walking on water. Unfortunately, most people tend to focus on the negative in life. I would like to focus on the positive.
In Matthew 14, we find that Jesus sent His disciples on a boat ride after the feeding of the five thousand and spent some time alone in prayer. While on the boat, the disciples encountered a raging storm that tossed their ship, and they were afraid. Then, their fear intensified when they saw Someone walking on the water. However, their fear turned to amazement when they heard the One walking on water say, …it is I; be not afraid. They recognized Jesus’ voice! I imagine they forgot about the storm in that moment.
I often wonder what was going through Peter’s mind. They were in the midst of a storm on a churning sea when Jesus walked toward the boat, and in spite of the circumstances, Peter decided that he wanted to walk on the water, too. I do not know what others would do, but I do not think I would attempt walking on water! I certainly would not try it in the middle of a storm.
Peter seemed fearless in this moment, though I doubt that he was. Why was Peter the only one who walked on water that night? The simple answer can be only faith. Peter trusted the One Who was already walking on the water. Sometimes, that is all it takes for us to step out by faith; we just need to know that someone else has done it already, or at the very least, that someone will be there to walk beside us.
Peter was a flawed man, but at least he tried. Peter did not allow his flaws to keep him from attempting the impossible. How often do we limit ourselves because we do not feel worthy to ask something of God or to do something for the Lord? Perhaps all of the disciples on the boat could have walked on the water, but for whatever reason they did not even attempt it. Jesus often creates situations or leads us into the storm to teach us our limitations, to remind us that He is in control, to refine us, and to reveal Himself to us.
Peter only began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus. Sometimes God will lead us into a storm to give us an opportunity to do the impossible: a chance to walk on the water. We can stay in the ship and watch someone else do it, or we can step out by faith. We may not go far, especially if we take our eyes off of Jesus, but at least we can say we did it.
A boxer does not lose when he is knocked down; he loses when he does not get back up from the mat. Even though Peter started sinking, God was not done with him yet! Peter reached out to Jesus for help, and Jesus rescued him! We might be sinking in life, but He is not done with us yet! Even after this story, Peter continued to make mistakes in his life, but he kept getting back up by trusting God and depending on Him. Peter had the legacy of a victorious life lived for Christ.
The choice is yours. You can stay on the boat and watch others do great things. You could even wonder what it would be like to walk on the water. Instead of these, just dare to be a Peter!
by Crystal Collingsworth
