📖 "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!”
Matthew 14:29-30
When Jesus said, “Come,” His voice carried further than Peter’s ears. That single word drifted across the waves and settled into the hearts of every disciple still gripping the sides of the boat. The call was not selective, even though only one pair of feet responded.
Peter did not walk on water because he was fearless. He walked because his eyes were fixed on Jesus. Faith held him steady while trust remained whole. The moment his attention shifted from the face of Christ to the violence of the wind, doubt entered and gravity reclaimed its voice.
The Greek word used for “doubted” here carries the sense of wavering between two opinions, a divided attention. Peter did not suddenly stop believing in Jesus. His focus fractured. One part leaned toward faith, the other toward fear. That fracture was enough to make him sink.
Yet notice the mercy woven into the moment. Peter’s cry was short, raw, and unpolished. “Lord, save me.” Jesus did not lecture from a distance. He reached immediately. The water that could not hold Peter was never stronger than the hand that grasped him.
The other disciples watched all of this unfold. They witnessed both the courage to step out and the compassion that rescues when faith falters. The invitation to “come” still stood, even after Peter sank. The storm did not cancel the call.
Faith is not proven by staying dry. It is revealed by responding to Jesus’ voice, even when the wind is loud.
Reflection:
Where might Jesus be saying “Come” to you, even though staying in the boat feels safer 🤔
What winds have been stealing your focus and dividing your attention 🤔
How quickly do you cry out when you begin to sink, rather than trying to save yourself 🤔
Life Application:
When fear rises, pause and deliberately refocus on Christ through prayer, Scripture, or worship. Name the wind for what it is, a distraction, not the authority over your steps.
Affirmation:
I fix my eyes on Jesus. Even when my faith wavers, His hand is steady, and His call remains unchanged.
Creative Prompt:
Create an image, sketch, or written piece showing a single word, “Come,” moving across water toward you. Let the scene reflect where you feel invited to trust again.
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that Your call is wider than my courage and Your mercy deeper than my doubt. Teach me to recognise Your voice above the storm and to fix my eyes on You when the wind grows loud. When I begin to sink, remind me that Your hand is already reaching.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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