How To Walk On Water

“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” (Matthew 14:25-29 KJV)

If Peter wanted to walk on water, why didn’t he just pray, “Lord, give me the ability to walk on water?” Instead, he said, “Lord, if that’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” This passage doesn’t say this in so many words, but I’m convinced it was because Peter knew that God wouldn’t tell Peter to do something that Peter couldn’t do. When Jesus said “Come,” Peter walked on the water on the strength of that one word alone.

How does this apply to me today?

• If God tells me to love my enemies (and He does) I can love my enemies.

• If God tells me to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength (and He does that too) I can love God with every fiber of my being.

• If God tells me to forgive, I can forgive.

• If God tells me not to judge, I can refrain from judging.

Will I do these things perfectly? Probably not.  I may, like Peter, get my eyes on the storm and begin to sink. But I know what to do if that happens.  With Peter, I will cry out and say, “Lord, save me” (verse 30). And I have every confidence that Jesus will stretch forth His hand and catch me.

Margot Armer