Called into Storms

Scripture reading: Matthew 14:22-36
Focus verse: Matthew 14:28-29 “Lord, if it is you, “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. 

The phrase, “out of the frying pan into the fire can best describe the situation with Peter.” Peter and the other disciples are getting tossed by the strong opposing winds as they get to cross over to the other side of the lake. From late evening to early dawn the boat is buffeted with strong winds and they all get terrified. Jesus comes to them walking on the same opposing storms and this even terrifies some of the disciples. Peter observes this and asks Jesus to command him to come to Him. Jesus permitted him and he began to walk over the stormy and terrifying wind towards Jesus. This he does for some distance before he gets afraid and begins to sink.

It would be right to say that by logic, it was a little safer for Peter to stay in the boat than to jump out into the raging waters. Jesus did not call Peter to a calm lake but to a stormy and life threatening storm, neither did he calm the lake first before He commanded Peter to come. He called him into the storms! Believers need to understand that Jesus has not called us to a life of calmness. We must be ready to face storms of life as we move towards Jesus. There will be sicknesses, rejections, persecutions, pain, death, marital challenges among other storms. We must prepare our mind with the same attitude and be ready to face life storms. Some storms may be worse than before but our motivation is that Jesus is right with us in that storm. He didn’t call Peter and leave Peter on the storm alone, He was right there with Him. We may fail as we walk on the storms but let’s be consoled that He is there to restore us when we fail.  

Paul’s words to the church as recorded in Ephesians 6:13 – "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Paul prepares the believers that there are days of evil ahead and so they should not be lazy but get ready for it. The days of evil may come like a thief, when you don’t know so you must get ready all the time. Peter would later tell the church to consider it pure joy when they face many trials since through the trials our faith produces perseverance which makes a believer to be mature and complete and not lacking in anything – 1 Peter 1:2-4. 

God bless you,

Pastor/Director Eliazar Wambo, 

Bethesda Faith Ministries & Makira Baptist Church