I've been thinking lately about a story from the Bible that feels so much like life sometimes, and I wanted to share it with you.
It’s the story of Jesus walking on water. Picture this: it’s late at night, and the disciples are in a little boat on the sea. A huge storm blows up out of nowhere. The wind is howling, the waves are crashing – genuinely terrifying. I can only imagine how they felt, just trying to hold on, maybe bailing out water, feeling completely out of control.
And then, in the middle of the chaos, they see someone walking towards them on the water. They think it’s a ghost, and they’re even more afraid.
But then, a familiar voice calls out above the wind: "It's me. Don't be afraid." It was Jesus. Just... there. Walking on the very thing that was terrifying them.
Peter calls out, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come out to you on the water!" And Jesus, without hesitation, says, "Come!"
And Peter does it! He steps out of the boat, onto the raging water, and for a few steps, he's actually walking towards Jesus!
But then... his eyes shift. He notices the wind. The size of the waves. The sheer impossibility of his circumstances. He gets scared, takes his eyes off Jesus, and starts to sink.
Doesn't that feel relatable?
Maybe we're not literally on a stormy sea, but life certainly throws us waves. The kind that feel like they could, and will (we think), pull us under. It's that feeling of overwhelm when the to-do list is overflowing and everything feels urgent. It's the anxiety when something unexpected happens – a tough diagnosis, a financial worry, a misunderstanding with someone we love.
It's that noise in our heads, the feeling of scrambling, of trying desperately to grab onto something stable, but everything just feels slippery and out of control. We clench our fists, trying to manage, trying to control the uncontrollable, and it often just leaves us feeling more exhausted and like we're sinking faster.
Where do we look when we feel like we're sinking?
When Peter was focused on Jesus, he did the impossible. When his focus shifted to the wind and the waves – the problem – he started to sink.
The storm didn't stop when he looked at Jesus. His circumstances were still wild and scary. But where he fixed his gaze made all the difference.
This isn't about ignoring the hard stuff. The storms are real. But it's about remembering that we have a choice about where we direct our attention.
When we fixate on the magnitude of the problem, it gains power over us. But when we deliberately turn our eyes to Jesus... the storm might still be raging, but our soul finds an anchor.
And this is the part of Peter's story that melts my heart. As soon as he cries out, "Lord, save me!" – what does Jesus do? Does He make Peter swim for a bit? Does He say, "Too bad, shoulda kept your eyes on me."
No! The Bible says, "Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and took hold of him..." (Matthew 14:31).
He didn't hesitate. He reached right out into the waves, right into Peter's panic and doubt, and pulled him up. He isn't annoyed or disappointed in our fear. He's our rescuer, always ready to pull us back up when we start to sink.
He is with us always, friend. Always. (Matthew 28:20b)
And that means He has authority over the things that scare us most today. He isn't surprised by the storms in our lives. He walks on the waves, and He is right there, walking with us through them.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..." Isaiah 43:2. That's His promise. Not if the waters come, but when. Storms are part of life, but we never have to go through them alone.
So, as you go through your week, and those waves inevitably start to rise – whether it's a big, scary one or just the constant chop of busy-ness and worry – what would it look like in that moment to deliberately shift your gaze to Jesus?
When waves rise up in my life, I often practice Breath Prayer. I breathe in God's promises and breathe out my worries. I also go through my husband's and my prayer box, where I can remind myself of the other storms in life that Jesus has walked me through.
However it looks for you, know this: He is right there. He is walking on the waves. And His hand is always reaching out to you.
Sending you so much grace and peace as you navigate the waves this week with Jesus as your guide.
With you in the stillness,
Kelsey
Owner & Founder of Wonderfully Made Gifting Company
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