Matthew 14:22-33 (select verses) - “…but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately, Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid…. He said to him, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord save me.’”
This storm story from the Sea of Galilee highlights three common storms in our lives and gives us two Jesus responses:
1) Fear of the storm itself. Sometimes like these disciples, life’s wind is against us.
2) Fear of the unknown. Sometimes like these disciples we imagine the worst (“It’s a ghost”)
3) Fear of the impossible. Sometimes like Peter we reason, we can’t possibly overcome the challenges of life (we see the wind and not the Lord).
Jesus gives two encouragements here for our storms today: 1) Don’t be afraid, it is I is Jesus’ way of saying, “don’t worry about the storm, I’m with you.” 2) The other is “come.” Jesus is inviting us into following him to the impossible. Just as he encouraged Peter to walk on water, he’s encouraging us to take a step of faith today.
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