Out of the Boat

by Seretha, September 2020

Recently, my church did a sermon on the life of Peter. When we got to the familiar story of Jesus and Peter walking on water, I sat back to enjoy a favorite Bible story.

Matthew 14:25-31 records the story. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him on the water, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “LORD, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “LORD, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

As we got to the part where Peter gets back in the boat, I jokingly thought, “I bet he was glad to get back in there.” Then that still small voice firmly asked, “Why?” I was jolted. Why, indeed?

Well, obviously the boat is safe and familiar. Peter was a fisherman, so he used the boat over and over. He could trust it. Still the voice challenged, “Why?” Okay, Lord, teach me. What do You want me to learn from this? I am still mulling this over, but three points stand out so far:

1. Can I honestly say that anywhere with Jesus, even standing on water during a storm, is better than the “safety” of any boat without Him? And what boats am I trusting more than Him?
2. Am I walking with Jesus but staying within reach of my boat?
3. Why did the other disciples stay in the boat? They knew Jesus, heard the same stories, saw the same miracles. They just witnessed the feeding of the 5,000. Am I also watching others walk on water with Jesus while clinging to a boat begging God to calm the storm?

During this time, Hillsong United’s song Oceans was popular on the radio. The chorus says, “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me.” I desperately wanted to agree in prayer with that song, but could I? Are there still areas of “safety” I am tethered to?

Much has been stripped away recently with the quarantine and new things revealed. Old ways of doing things have been forcibly changed or eliminated completely. Safe places are gone. I have alternately walked with eyes focused on Jesus and sank when I looked around. Always there is Jesus, immediately catching me. The closing question sticks to me like a burr just as much as His initial question in church. “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?” I do not want little faith. I do not want to stay in a boat no matter how faithful it has been in the past, no matter how much I enjoy it. It is still just a boat. It is a creation not the creator. I also do not want to follow Jesus while towing my boat behind me just in case I “need” it. What am I trusting that is not faith…it is simply familiar?