Walking on Water: Faith, Storms, and Staying in the Boat

 Walking on Water: Faith, Storms, and Staying in the Boat

“Jesus spoke to them at once. ‘Courage!’ he said. ‘It is I. Don’t be afraid!’ Then Peter spoke up. ‘Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you.’ ‘Come!’ answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he cried. At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, ‘What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:27-31, GNT)

About 12 years ago, I read If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg. It was a life-changing book that challenged me to have greater faith in God and to take bold steps into the life He was calling me to—it literally meant a change of career, moving house, and leaving behind things I knew and loved. The metaphor was simple but powerful: if I wanted to live the life of faith, I needed to step out of my comfort zone, leave the safety of the boat, and trust God to carry me.


That message has stayed with me over the years and I’ve preached many a sermon on the very subject, but recently, as I’ve revisited Matthew 14, I’ve noticed something new. The same passage that once inspired boldness now speaks to me in the quieter tones of grace and understanding. Life is far more complex than a single bold step of faith. It is filled with storms, unexpected troubles, and moments when staying in the boat feels not only safer but also wiser.

And that’s okay.

Sometimes, the boat is the best place to be.

In the story in Matthew’s gospel, the disciples were in the middle of a storm. The wind was strong, the waves were high, and fear gripped their hearts. When Jesus appeared, walking on the water, Peter—bold, impulsive Peter—asked to join Jesus. It was an incredible moment of faith, but as Peter stepped out onto the water, his confidence wavered. The storm distracted him, and he began to sink.

We often focus on Peter’s lack of faith and the sinking moment, but the truth is, Peter did something extraordinary: he stepped out. Yet, even more extraordinary is what happens next—Jesus reached out immediately to save him.

Today, this passage has reminded me of something profound: God does not demand that we always step out of the boat. There are days when staying in the boat is the safest, most sensible thing to do. Life has storms that threaten to overwhelm us. Some days, it takes all the faith we have just to stay afloat, clinging to the sides of the boat as the wind rages around us.

And in those moments, there is no shame in staying where it’s safe.

The miracle of Matthew 14 isn’t that Peter walked on water. It’s that Jesus walked on water to reach the disciples in their storm. It’s that, even when Peter sank, Jesus was there to save him. The miracle isn’t in our ability to step out; it’s in God’s ability to hold us up when we do—or to hold us steady when we don’t.

I believe there will be seasons when God calls us to bold steps of faith. When that happens, we can trust that He will be there, performing the miraculous. But I also believe there are seasons when we are called to rest, to stay in the boat, and to trust that God is still in control.

Sometimes, faith looks like stepping out. Sometimes, it looks like staying in. Either way, the storm is not ours to conquer. The battle is already won by God. We don’t need to walk on water, because only God can.

So, whether you’re clinging to the boat today or feel the Spirit calling you to step out, know this: God is with you. He’s in the boat, in the storm, on the water. He is the God who saves.

Take heart. Don’t be afraid. And trust the One who walks on water.

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