Jesus had just fed 5,000 men with 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fishes. He had the disciples collect the leftovers, and He had sent them away by boat. He dismissed the multitude and went alone into a mountain to pray.

Can’t you just imagine the conversation among the disciples as they sailed away from the crowd and the Lord? Some of their questions might have been:

• How did He do that?
• Why did He have us take up the leftovers? What do you suppose He will do with the extra food?
• Why did He send us away?
• Where did He go?
• When will we see Him again?

Now, out in the middle of the sea, the disciples find themselves in a raging storm. Their fear overcame them, and they began to panic. It was between 3 and 6 o’clock in the morning, and they are afraid.

As if the storm wasn’t enough to trouble them, they saw a figure walking on the sea. They thought this image was a spirit or a ghost. Scripture said, “They cried out for fear” (Matthew 14:26 KJV).

Jesus called out to these men, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (verse 2 ESV7). Do you think that quieted their fears? Maybe somewhat, but the storm was still tossing this fishing boat around among the waves. I doubt they were comfortable just yet.

Peter became the brave one, at least temporarily. He said, “Lord, if it is you command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus replied, “Come.” So impetuous Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

Just imagine the feeling Peter must have had as he literally walked on top of the water, making his way toward this figure he believed to be Jesus. Sadly, he took his eyes off of Jesus. He saw the wind, and he became afraid. Of course, he began to sink.

What followed holds several valuable lessons for us. Verse 31 says, “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”

I’m sure Peter must have felt embarrassed because he tried to be so brave and ended up nearly drowning. Peter got himself into a number of situations where he proved just how vulnerable he really was.

This is probably why I relate so well to Peter. I sometimes attempt something out of my comfort zone and end up with egg on my face. I’m sure most of us do that, but this event has some real lessons for us today.

First, the unexpected does happen. The disciples didn’t expect to be in a storm in the middle of the sea. They didn’t expect something or someone to walk across that sea in the early hours of the morning.

The unexpected can come to us at any moment. It can come in the form of an accident, an illness, or even a death. I experienced just such an event the first of this year.

So we can expect things to happen to us, but they often come when we least expect them. What we learn from those unexpected events depends on us.

Second, trials come to the righteous. Do you ever think they seem to come more to the righteous than the unrighteous? We need to remember the words of Jesus when He said, “…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45). No one is exempt from trials.

Third, trials can cause us to sink into sin. We begin to “drown” in sin when we fail to turn our problems over to God. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:7). Isn’t it interesting that these verses come from the very one who sank in the sea because of his lack of faith?

Fourth, Jesus is our shelter from the storm. Notice in our text that when Jesus and Peter entered the ship, the wind became calm. When God is the source of our strength, we have nothing to fear.

The psalmist says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Psalms 46:1).

So where do we get this faith that can sustain us through all our trials? We look once again to the scripture. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

The more we read and study God’s Word, the stronger our faith should be!

Sandra Oliver