As we continue learning how to overcome the storms of life, we turn to Matthew’s account of Jesus’ disciples crossing the sea to Bethsaida (Matthew 14:22-33). Similar to Mark’s account, the disciples found themselves battling strong winds and rough waters as they obeyed the Lord’s instruction to cross over to the other side. However, Matthew’s rendition highlights two important lessons for overcoming life’s storms: keeping our eyes on Jesus, and maintaining joy in the midst of adversity.
As the disciples struggled against the contrary winds, Jesus came to them walking on the sea (vs.22-25). Yet, they did not recognize Him, and were instead terrified, believing He was a ghost (vs.26). Fear distorts our spiritual perception, causing us to miss the very deliverance God is bringing. And the same still happens to many believers today when facing difficult situations. God may be working in ways we do not immediately recognize, but when we view our circumstances through the lens of fear rather than faith, we can overlook His provision and intervention. This is why we must remain rooted in the Word, so that our faith is strengthened, enabling us to see beyond our circumstances and recognize the workings of the Lord.
Jesus immediately addressed the disciples, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (v.27). Human logic suggests that the storm disappears before the disciples can rejoice, but Jesus gave the instruction to be of good cheer in the midst of their circumstances. He did not first calm the storm or remove the wind. Instead, He called them to rejoice while the storm was still raging. This teaches us that joy is not a response to the storm ending; it is the expected response to the presence of Jesus in the storm. Scripture echoes this principle repeatedly, reminding us to “count it all joy when we fall into various trials …” (James 1:2). This does not mean denying reality or pretending that difficulties do not exist, no! Rather, it means remaining confident in God’s faithfulness even when circumstances have not yet changed. It means remembering that “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), and that with that joy we draw water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). So while the enemy seeks to produce discouragement, fear and despair, we can choose to remain joyful because the Lord is with us.
Peter then responded, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28). At Jesus’ invitation, Peter stepped out of the boat and did the impossible – he walked on water. It is important to note that his ability to walk on water was not based on human effort, but on acting upon the Word of the Lord in faith. And as long as his focus remained on Jesus, he walked above the very thing that threatened everyone else. But when Peter turned his attention to the wind and waves, fear entered his heart, and he began to sink (vs.30). The storm had not changed – the wind was still blowing and the waves were still present – what changed was where he was looking. The moment his focus shifted from Jesus to the storm, fear gained access. This remains true for us today: the storms around us become dangerous when they take more of our focus than our Saviour. It is also significant that the Bible says Peter began to sink. This is because in the spirit realm, decline often happens gradually rather than suddenly. A person drifts little by little before eventually finding themselves far from where they once were; distractions, doubts, and compromise slowly pull us away from Christ if we are not vigilant to guard our hearts against such. Yet even when Peter faltered, there was mercy. The moment he cried out, “Lord, save me!” (vs.30b), Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him (v.31). What a comfort to know that when we call upon the Lord, He is faithful to help us. As He promised, “Call to Me, and I will answer you” Jeremiah 33:3); “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you” (Psalm 50:15).
Jesus then asked Peter, “Why did you doubt?” Saints, storms often seek to sow doubt, fear, and unbelief, but we are called to respond to God’s Word rather than our emotions, so that our faith remains effective. We see this principle in operation when Jesus encountered the grieving widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-12). Though facing a difficult situation, Jesus instructed her, saying, “Do not weep” (vs.13), and immediately following her faith-response to the grace instruction, He raised her son back to life (vs.14-15). Likewise, God often calls us to harness our emotions and respond in faith before we see the breakthrough we are praying for. We must cooperate with His grace instructions if we are to experience His supernatural intervention. Church, storms will come, but we always have a choice: we can be governed by fear and emotion, or we can respond in faith to the Word of God. So let us choose to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus even in the midst of adversity. Because when we do, we position ourselves to respond to His Word in faith and experience His power at work in our lives.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being with us in every storm. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You, and not on the winds and waves around us. Teach us to respond to Your Word with faith and obedience even when circumstances seem difficult, knowing that You are faithful to save and deliver. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
