WALKING ON WATER

It was another dark, stormy night on the Sea of Galilee.

As the disciples struggled to keep the boat heading toward their destination through what seemed most of the night, the wind was against them—and, on this occasion, Jesus was not in the boat with them. Unlike their previous experience, when they woke Jesus, who was sleeping in the boat during a storm (see Matthew 8:23–25), they were alone with the wind and waves, as well as their fears and imaginations. If the earlier story of Jesus calming the storm reassures us that He is with us in the storms of life, perhaps this story speaks to those times in our lives when we do not feel His presence. Sometimes, we feel alone. Sometimes, the storms and circumstances surrounding us are all that hold our attention, and our fears grow larger as the night becomes darker and the headwinds grow stronger. We get an insight into the disciples’ mindset from their reaction to the unexpected appearance of Jesus. “They were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear” (Matthew 14:26). We can imagine their heart rates rising even beyond the elevated levels that came with their physical exertion and existing stress.

They were not trying to talk with this figure, only crying out in fear. But we can also imagine their sense of relief when the voice that answered them was both familiar and reassuring. Even as they were still being buffeted by the wind and the waves, their understanding of their predicament was transformed by their recognition of Jesus and the sound of His voice.

He hardly needed to say, “Don’t be afraid.” His presence and His voice would have communicated that message clearly, even amid the sounds of the storm and the beating of their hearts.