In Matthew’s telling of Christ walking on water (Matt 14:22-33), we hear Peter say to our Lord, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Christ assures him that it is indeed Him who walks on the raging seas and calls to Peter to join Him. Peter, who was so brave just a moment before, becomes fearful as the winds howl around him and the sea heaves and rolls. His lack of faith causes him to sink and he cries out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus extends His hand and pulls Peter up from the raging waters and says to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
How often are we like Peter – anxious for God to call to us and yet so doubtful when we step out to meet Him? Do we lose faith and sink when it seems the storms of life are raging around us, threatening to pull us under? Are we like Peter and repeatedly cry out, “Lord, save me!”?
God often calls us out into deep waters. He asks us to trust Him in every aspect of our lives. He knows the storm will batter the ship we could choose to stay aboard, and yet He knows that with faith and trust in Him we will be safe. He gently encourages us to leave the safety we think we will find aboard the ship and instead step out into the deep waters.
Why is it so hard for us to trust?
Recently, I was at the Georgia Aquarium with one of my daughters. We had never been before and she decided to treat me to a day out. One of the exhibits, the Ocean Voyager, allows you a very up close view of some of the most amazing underwater creatures. We were in complete awe and wonderment as we walked through the 100 foot underwater tunnel that spanned from one end of the exhibit to the other. Above us swam thousands of fish. We watched as they circled above our heads without a care in the world. We laughed at the manta rays that seemed to grin at us as they swam by. Suddenly a whale shark swam above us. The sheer size dwarfed everything else around it.
As thrilled as I was to witness this magnificent animal, I still shuddered as well. I looked at my daughter and said, “It’s scary to think that when we are out in the ocean that these giants are swimming below us. I find it unsettling to know that there is so much I can’t see which could harm me!” She quickly agreed with me and then reminded me that whale sharks aren’t predators. Nodding I said, “I know, but look at the other sharks… they would hurt you in a heartbeat!”
Isn’t this a little like why we are so afraid to trust in God? When we are called to deep waters we have to walk out into the unknown; we don’t know what is lurking underneath the water waiting to keep us from reaching Christ’s outstretched hand. And when you combine the fear of the unknown with the howling winds and torrents of rain that so often complicate our journey, well, it makes it not only difficult but downright scary to think of walking on the water without hesitation.
Taking the first step can be difficult.
Prior to entering the tunnel where we encountered these fantastic sea critters, we had to walk through another part of the exhibit. The lighting was dim and there were windows that gave us a peek into the tank ahead. Each window had a seat where 3 or so people could sit to just watch the fish swimming. We had no idea what was up ahead and so we stopped to try to look through one of the windows. There was a family there who took their time and didn’t seem to want to share the view with us. We waited patiently but they never moved. They were fixated on what they were seeing and didn’t seem to want to explore the rest of the exhibit. After taking a quick picture over their heads, we moved on.
As we entered the 100 foot underwater tube, I gasped. The window before gave us such a tiny view of what was truly there. I made a comment to my daughter that I felt sorry for those women as they were missing what was waiting for them, because they thought the little window peering into the abyss was the only window available. They were stuck and missing out on so much! We marveled at the creatures over and all around us. We didn’t want to move on. We were captivated. My daughter realized that we hadn’t moved and that others wanted to experience this as well. She nudged me forward and we left the underwater passageway.
I have to admit, I was disappointed to be leaving. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around all the beauty I had just witnessed. As we rounded the corner of the exhibit, suddenly before us was the most amazing sight we had ever seen- a 26 foot high and 63 foot wide observation window into the ocean habitat! The animals swam close to the glass and it seemed as if you could reach out and touch them as they swam by. We stood in awe. The whale shark was as tall as the window was high. We never imagined this view was waiting for us as we left the underwater passageway.
Walking out to meet Christ in the deep water is much like this experience. We often feel like the view we have now is good enough (the women refusing to move from the tiny window) and so we are hesitant to take that first step. When we are brave enough to step out among raging seas we sometimes can become scared at what lies beneath us (like the anxious and panicky feeling I felt thinking about something so huge swimming beneath me). This can take away our resolve and our faith. We get stuck.
However, when we make that decision to trust in God and to walk out to take His hand, He reveals to us something so glorious, amazing, and breathtaking that we are taken aback by His gifts (just like the observation window!). When we dare to leave the comfort of the known and instead brave the deep waters He gives us a peek into another world- His world.
There will always be storms. There will always be raging seas. There will always be mammoth creatures swimming beneath. But when we trust in Jesus and we take His hand as we step out into the deep waters He calms the storms, quiets the raging seas, and protects us from the beasts that can harm us. Jesus tells us, “Take courage, it is I; be not afraid.”
What are you waiting for? Take His hand and step out into the deep water.
