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You are already doing the impossible! After Jesus fed the 5000, he told his disciples to immediately get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side. He went up into the mountain to pray(well into the night) alone. The boat was some distance away from land. The waves were crashing against the boat. Jesus came towards them walking on the sea. They thought he was a ghost and was afraid. He told them to have courage, don't fear. Out of everyone, Peter was bold enough to speak up. He said," Lord if it's you command me to come to you on the water. " Jesus said, " Come." It's as if Peter got the revelation that he was suppose to do what he saw Jesus do. He believe that If Jesus commanded it, it had to be so. He'd seen Jesus perform miracles. He'd heard his teachings. He believed in him enough where he abandoned his livelihood and left all to follow him. If Jesus said it I can do it! Have you ever felt that way? God ,if you say it I can do it. You've performed so many miracles in my life. I believe your word. Have you ever said that?
If Jesus said come, I can come. So Peter did just that. He stepped outside the boat and began walking to Jesus. But then something happened. He began to realize how strong the winds were. When he was in the boat, the boat buffered the winds. But now that he steps out on faith(a word from Jesus) , there is no buffer. When we are in a place of complacency, we may feel the rocking of the boat. But when we finally decide to step out in faith and do what God said, the little security the complacent space offered is gone.
Peter was walking on water! He was doing the impossible, but something shifted in him. His focus shifted! He went from focusing on Jesus, to focusing on his surroundings. He focused on the winds. These were the same winds that had them afraid. So what was the new variable in the equation? Peter's focus? They were afraid before they saw Jesus. They calmed down when he commanded them. Now that he's out the boat, Peter realizes what he's actually doing and what the ability of the sea was. You see, as a fisherman he was very acquainted with the power of water. How it can break boats, and cause men to lose their lives. He had history with the sea. He had submitted to the sea. He let the sea dictate to him how he would move. But none of that mattered until he stepped out of the boat.
His focus was on Jesus. And along the way, it shifted. He began to sink. Until..... he shifted his focus back to Jesus. "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand an caught hold of him. I just realized that Peter was close enough to Jesus for him to reach out. He made it all the way to Jesus and began to doubt. Have you stepped out in faith in anything? Like quit your job to start a business, relocate your family, start a church, etc? You got the word from God and were bold enough to step out on that word? Thinking, if God said it, I can do it? Then along the way you're met with fierce opposition? Bills began to stack up? Stuff goes wrong with the move, no one shows up to your church? You shift your focus from the word God spoke to now the possibility of failure. Thoughts flood your mind and you began to sink under the pressure.
I want to encourage you to shift your focus back on the very thing that gave you the courage to step out of the boat. The very thing that gave you the ability to do the impossible. Shift your focus back on Jesus(who is the living word). You're already doing the impossible. To keep doing it, you're going to have to continue doing what you did in the first place. Focus on Jesus. If you feel yourself drowning under the cares of this life, cry out to Jesus! He will always reach for you and pick you up.
Jesus said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Now people want to look down on Peter because he had little faith. But I don't think Jesus was rebuking him. As a matter of fact, I belive the phrase we should focus on ,"why did you doubt?" That is a question of self reflection. Why did you doubt? The real lesson here is that the only thing that can stop you from doing the impossible is doubt!! Not opposition, not people opinions, not circumstances, not even the devil. Doubt! Doubt is the enemy of my faith. Once they got in the boat, the bible said the wind ceased. Isn't that something. The winds stopped once they were done. The wind was nothing but a distraction to trigger doubt. When they got on the boat, the other disciples said, "Truly you are the son of God."
My brothers and sisters, don't doubt. Only believe! You already stepped out the boat. You're already walking on water! You're already doing what others said was impossible. You're the first! The first in your family to start a business. The first to have a successful marriage. The first to graduate college! You're almost there. Don't be distracted. Stay focused on Jesus. And if you do begin to sink, cry out to him. He got you!! At the end of it all, others will see your good works and glorify the Father.
- Grace and Peace Scripture Reference: Matthew 14:22-32
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