So I saw this super cool quote on Pinterest and it moved me. So I decided to write a blog about it…

For many of us, it is easy to live a simple life. To live a life where we have everything planned out perfectly…

I want to challenge you to take that life and toss it into the garbage bin and light it on fire because that life does not really exist.

Would you rather be sinking or sitting?

Sinking is a terrifying thing to think about.
Sitting is easy because all you have to do is sit.

What happens when you sink?

You’re going down, down, down, down. The water is pulling you down and you think there is nothing you can do.

All of a sudden someone grabs your arms and pulls you up above the surface. You stand on your feet and cough up the extra water that was sitting on your lungs. You’re feet feel cold and wet…looking down you gasp as you find that you are standing above the water you were once sinking in. You look up and see the one who rescued you…

Jesus has saved you from drowning in the deep.

If you’re sitting, please get out of your chair, please get off of the couch because I have a story to tell and you can’t listen to it while you are sitting.

Can I tell you another story about Jesus?

(The Story of Jesus walking on Water can be found in Matthew 14:22-33)

Jesus commanded his disciples to get into a boat and go out onto the lake. Jesus then went to the other side of the mountain to pray because he wanted some alone time. The boat was already really far away from the mountain. The waves had pushed the boat away because the winds were lashing against them.

Jesus wanted to join his disciples so he went walking out on the water.

The disciples were out in the storm trying to control their boat against the wind and the waves. All of a sudden they noticed a figure walking towards them…

The disciples were terrified to the point they couldn’t move.

“It’s a ghost!” Some of them screamed in fear.

The figure responded in a calm, gentle voice, “Take Courage! Do not be afraid, it is I! ”

Peter, one of the disciples, squinted through the wind and the rain. “I think that’s Jesus!”

Peter started to climb out of the boat, but Thomas pulled him back in. “Are you crazy! What are you doing? Do you want to die?”

Peter ignored Thomas, “Jesus, if it’s you then tell me to come out on the water with you!”

Peter was already climbing out of the boat.

“Come, Peter.” Jesus replied.

Peter put one foot out of the boat and it rested on top of the water. Peter smiled as he began to walk towards Jesus. One foot in front of the other. Peter was walking on the water.

Then the wind began to blow harder and the waves roared beside him. When Peter felt the wind pulling on him-he became afraid. He looked down and saw that the waves were getting bigger.

Peter began to sink.

He started panicking and cried out to Jesus…”Lord, save me!”

Jesus grabbed Peter’s arm and pulled him up on his feet.

Jesus said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Tears sprang to Peter’s eyes as they walked back together to the boat.

He had lost faith in his Lord. He had taken his eyes off Jesus…

When Jesus climbed back in the boat, the winds died down. The disciples immediately worshiped him and said, “You are the son of God!”

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Jesus knew Peter would start sinking. Jesus knew Peter had little faith.

So why did Jesus let Peter come out on the water in the first place??

When the disciples saw “a ghost” walking on the water, their first reaction was to scream and be afraid. When Peter saw “a ghost” out on the water, he was for sure it was his Lord and wanted to be with him.

I believe Peter was already halfway out of the boat before Jesus even called him.

Peter was brave. Did you notice that only Peter was willing to get out of the boat and walk on the waves?

Did you also know that Peter is only human?

Peter started walking with great courage…but in the end he doubted because he had fear.

We are just like Peter…

How many of us start off strong, but in the end, we are weak and fall?

For example, in order to run a race, you need to be fast and have the strength to complete it. I cannot run races. I am weak. I have asthma and no athletic skills whatsoever.

We are human, Jesus doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He doesn’t expect us to do it all on our own. That’s what he’s here for!

Now let’s turn our attention to the disciples who sat in the boat…the entire time.

Like for real, what were they doing? Why did they join Peter?

I have a feeling they tried to stop him or maybe had a disagreement over who should go next….

No matter what was going through their heads..they did nothing!

Yes, they worshiped Jesus in the end and recognized who Jesus was, but all they did was sit.  The other disciples never truly understood the wonder of what Peter witnessed on the sea. Yes, they saw the winds die down, but they did not walk on water.

Why were not the disciples eager to join Peter? Why didn’t they have the same courage as Peter to walk on the water too?

We have to get out of our chairs, off our couches and out of our seats! We have to start walking on the water with Jesus.

We don’t have to be afraid! Did you notice how Jesus was walking on the waves with Peter??? Peter was not alone!

Peter did not wake up one day and say, “Today I think I will see if I can walk on water…” and then try and then sink and die…NOOO Jesus was with him. Jesus rescued him!

When we started sinking, in less than three seconds Jesus rescued him!

Why can’t we see that our life is just like Peter’s story!?!

Sometimes we can’t see Jesus very well because the wind is blowing and the waves are crashing. He may look like a ghost, but He is there! I promise you he is there.

Step out of the boat, put your feet on the water and start walking to him. You can walk to Jesus in the midst of the storm, in the midst of the waves. And when you start sinking, he will come and pull you out of the water and set you on your feet.

All it takes is that first step and you can walk on the water with Jesus.

Just keep your eyes on Him.