There are moments when faith asks more of us than staying where we feel secure. In Matthew 14, the disciples are already battling strong, contrary winds when Jesus appears, walking on the water. What happens next reminds us that faith often begins where comfort ends.
Contrary winds don’t cancel God’s will
The disciples were exactly where Jesus had sent them, yet the wind was hostile—working against them. Obedience didn’t remove resistance; it placed them right in the middle of it. Sometimes we forget that following Jesus doesn’t mean smooth waters. There is an adversary, and there will be moments when faith feels opposed.
Still, Jesus came to them in the fourth watch of the night, right in the middle of the struggle. His presence was not delayed by the storm.
The courage to step out
Peter noticed something the others didn’t. Instead of staying in the safety of the boat, he asked Jesus for permission to come to Him on the water. And when Jesus said, “Come,” Peter stepped out and did the impossible—he walked where only Jesus had walked.
Faith doesn’t always mean certainty. It means responding when Jesus invites us forward, even when the winds are loud and the waves are strong. Peter didn’t wait until the storm stopped. He stepped out while it was still raging.
Grace in the moment we falter
Peter did begin to sink. Fear crept in when he shifted his focus from Jesus to the wind around him. But even in that moment, Jesus immediately reached out and caught him. The correction came with compassion, not rejection.
Jesus didn’t shame Peter for stepping out. He rescued him—and then taught him. Sometimes we think we need perfect faith before we move, but Jesus shows us that growth often happens after we step out, not before.
Faith lives beyond the boat
Staying in the boat may feel safer, but it’s outside the boat that faith is stretched and strengthened. Jesus delights when we trust Him enough to step into places we can’t stand on our own. He is close enough to catch us, patient enough to teach us, and faithful enough to finish what He begins.
Faith exists in those unknown places. And when our eyes remain fixed on Jesus, even the water beneath our feet can hold us.
