Read Matthew 14:22–31
“…Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matthew 14:29–30).
My toddler son has always had a fascination for rocks. Everywhere we go, he likes to collect them and we wind up bringing home rocks that end up being scattered around our yard. Try and get rid of them, and he will know immediately and question where a certain rock is (how he even remembers a specific rock boggles my mind)! When we go on vacation in Northern Lower Michigan, he loves to throw rocks into the water and, with his goggles on, he goes in to recover them. Even at his young age, he knows that when you throw a rock into the water, it sinks. Science tells us that rocks have a greater density than that of the water, hence they sink. So, how can we be like a rock and float?
Just as Jesus did with Peter, he calls us out onto the water to walk toward Him. When Peter had his eyes fixed on Jesus, he walked on the water without any issues. It was only when he saw the wind and the storm around him that he became afraid and began to sink. Don’t we do the same in our lives? We are called to do whatever it is that God calls us to do, but when the storms of our lives rage, we lose sight of what matters most, and we begin to doubt and sink.
However, we are not called to sink; we are called to float, to be rock-steady in our faith, with our eyes fixed on the One who has conquered every storm this world and the devil could throw at Him. So, be steadfast in the faith, live your life as a redeemed child of God, and be like a rock and float.
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, remind us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, so that when the storms of our life rage around us, we can be a rock in our faith and float and show your love to all those around us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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