WHAT IF WE DO SINK?
KEY SCRIPTURE: He said, “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.”Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ~ Matthew 14:29-32 (ESV)
Yes, this story again, because this time I want to focus on a different perspective.
What if we DO sink?
What if we step out in faith, towards Jesus… and we sink?
Because sometimes, we do.
Sometimes we DON’T get the job… and we sink. Sometime we DON’T get married… and we sink. Sometimes we DON’T get pregnant… and we sink. Sometimes we DON’T … fill-in-the-blank-for-what-has-NOT-worked-out-for-you… and we sink.
I truly believe, in the story above, that Jesus knew Peter was going to focus on the wind and waves, lose faith, and sink. I also believe Peter COULD have focused on Jesus and NOT started to sink, and Jesus was hopeful he would make that choice, but He knew Peter – better than Peter knew himself – and He knew Peter would end up sinking.
So, if He knew Peter would sink, then why tell him to come? Why set him up for failure like that?? Was it just some sort or cruel joke? Was He being mean? No, I don’t think it’s because Jesus was being mean, or that He just wanted to humble Peter in front of his friends, or anything like that. I think Jesus wanted Peter to experience something unfamiliar to him. Something incredible. Even more incredible than walking on water.
Yes, as I said previously, I think Jesus REALLY wanted Peter to experience the gift of walking on the water, but knowing that Peter’s faith would falter, (Psalm 139:2-3 & 16) and being that His very nature is to love, (1 John 4:8) Jesus wanted to use this opportunity for Peter’s good… (Romans 8:28) and so, He let Peter sink.
When Peter started to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” and IMMEDIATELY Jesus reached out His hand and caught Him.
There is a difference between “knowing” something with your head, and “knowing” something with your heart. Head knowledge is just reading about it, hearing about it, or seeing it in someone else’s life. And while the physical distance from the head down to heart is only a little more than 12 or so inches, it sometimes takes years for truths to trickle from our head all the way down to our heart… because true heart knowledge comes from personal experience.
When you personally experience the hand of Christ holding you up when you’ve started to sink, then you absolutely KNOW the truth of His love. His love for YOU.
I think Jesus wanted Peter to have the experience of sinking, crying out to Him for help, and having Jesus immediately respond. I think Jesus wanted Peter to experience what it was like to have Jesus so close He would catch him when he started to sink. (Matthew 28:20)
And I believe He wants each one of us to experience this as well… and so, sometimes, we sink.
I also think it’s important to remember, that while Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed Peter to keep him from sinking further, the storm did not immediately subside… it wasn’t until they climbed back into the boat that things calmed down.
Sometimes the storm rages on even after we call out, “Lord, save me!” but with Jesus’ firm grip on us, we can eventually get back in the boat and find we are closer to shore than we thought. (John 6:16-21)
Abba, thank You for always being there for us when we’re sinking and we cry out, “Lord, save me!” Thank You for the “sinking” times in our lives, because it is only then that the “knowledge” of Your true love for us can sink from our head all the way down to our heart… and we can truly “know” how close You are. Always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
SCRIPTURES
Matthew 14:29-32~ He said, “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.”Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. (ESV)
Psalm 139:2-3 & 16~ You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives.You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do… Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence. (NET)
1 John 4:8~ God is love. (KJV)
Romans 8:28~ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)
Matthew 28:20~ Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you [a]all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be). (AMPC)
John 6:16-21~ … (Jesus) said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid,” … and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. (NIV)