Walking on Water

Matthew 14:22-23 describes the incident where Jesus walks to the disciples and Peter's attempt to walk towards Him. Before Christ came to the disciples he spent four days in prayer by Himself. Beth Moore talks about how we see the peace of God so vividly in this account. I am quoting from her Bible study:

"First, we see that Christ purposely created circumstances in which He could reveal His majesty. The last place one would seek safety during a storm would be in a boat...separated from all visible signs of security! The disciples were at the end of their physical strength and were mentally exhausted.

Christ did not run to their rescue. He walked. Christ approaches at a nice and easy pace while the disciples are scurrying and screaming, "It's a ghost!"

As long as Peter's focus was straight "toward Jesus", he remained at the top of the waves, but then he began to sink. Peter switched his focus to his circumstances while Christ remained tightly focused on His destination. Then came Peter's fear...the same kind of fear that binds weights to our ankles and submerges us in the waves of surrounding circumstances.

Immediately, Christ came to his rescue. Christ simply climbed the waves and walked. He didn't change His circumstances to make them bearable. He mastered them at the peak of their impossibility." (Beth Moore--Living Beyond Yourself -pg.105)

How many times I have handled "adverse circumstances" with the reaction of the disciples. Scurrying around, wringing my hands and praying for a deliverance. It was a light-bulb moment when I studied this verse yesterday. I had never made the connection before that Christ could have calmed the storm, but He didn't. This is the example we are to follow when our circumstances are less than desirable. Keep your eyes on the destination (Christ) and not on what is happening around you (circumstances).

I feel like Moses-at times. He was eighty before he was ready for God to be able to use him.