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How To Walk on Water

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 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!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Mat 14:28-31)

The Lord has impressed upon this writer that there is starting faith and ending faith. Both are grounded upon the solid ground of faith in Christ, however they differ in resolve. It seems easier to start a ministry or take a path by faith, than it does to finish it. 

Considering the amount of faith it took for Peter to ask Jesus to bid him come is amazing. Then to get out of that boat and start to walk to Jesus is even more amazing. Who would do that? So it is surprising to read the words of Jesus, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 

Jesus doesn’t focus on Peter’s faith at the beginning of this encounter. Instead, Jesus comments on Peter’s failure to trust to the end. So it seems faith to start something is one thing and faith to finish something may be quite different.

Like most things in life, when starting out, there is excitement and hope. This can soon give way to frustration and fears. What caused Peter to stop short of Jesus? Wasn’t his problem that he took his eyes off Jesus and started looking at his circumstances? Seeing the wind and the waves all around him he began to sink. Peter did not sink because Jesus’ power was not sufficient. He sank because his focus waned. 

Therefore, when it seems that walking the Christian life is impossible, look to Christ. He is, after all, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2).


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