Matthew 14:22-33 – “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

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

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

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”  NKJV

I can only imagine how the disciples felt and what was going on in their minds when they were in the middle of the lake, without their leader and turbulence arose and they feared for their lives.  According to Jewish and Roman calculations, there were four watches in the night.  The first began at 6 PM, the second at 9 PM, the third at Midnight, and the fourth at 3 AM.   It was in the wee hours of the morning that they disciples were in troubled waters and saw what they considered an apparition or omen of their impending death.  What they saw was not a ghost or vision but Jesus literally “walking on the water” and He called out to them, “…Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid.”  I have no doubt that Peter’s response was rooted in his fear, question and doubt about what they were seeing and experiencing.  He said, “Lord if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 

Jesus bade Him, “Come.”  Peter had two options at that point, he could stay in the boat with his fear, doubt and questions or get out of what little comfort zone the boat provided and do the impossible and unthinkable.  If this was, in fact, an apparition and he moved from the boat to the boisterous water he would drown.  However, if this was, in fact, Jesus he would not only witness a miracle but be a part of it.  Peter opted to get out of the boat and turned his focus to Jesus and as he stepped out of the boat the water, under his feet, was firm enough for him to stand.  It was still water but had no effect on him.  He began walking toward Jesus.  Had the story ended there we would be rejoicing but it did not.

As Peter’s focus shifted from Jesus to what was happening around him, nature took over and gravity began to pull his body into the sea.  It was at that moment, Peter cried out in desperation, “Lord, save me!”  He allowed his circumstances to shift his focus and fear gripped his heart, subverting his faith.  If we are going to “walk on water” figuratively in the spirit realm we cannot allow circumstances to draw our focus away from God and His Promises.  If we do, we will sink.  If we are going to operate in the world of the supernatural and enforce the victory of Calvary we cannot allow our focus to shift from Jesus.  It is Christ in us, the hope of Glory.  In Him, we live and move and have our being.

God bless you as you get out of your boat and walk on the waters of life.  Blessings!