Get Out of the Boat
By Timmy Martin
Matthew 14: 22-34 speaks of the disciples getting into a boat to cross a lake. Jesus stayed behind on the land to pray. A storm of high winds and strong waves began to attack the boat the disciples were in. They feared for their safety. Jesus knew of their trouble and walked across the water and strong waves to save them. The sight of Jesus walking on water frightened the disciples and they thought it was a ghost. While others were frightened, Peter asked Jesus who he was. Jesus replied by telling Peter who He was and told him to step out of the boat and walk on the water toward him. Peter stepped out of the boat and walked towards Jesus on the water. While he looked at Jesus, Peter managed to stay on top of the water and not drown in the strong waves. Once he looked away from Jesus and noticed the wind and the waves again, he began to sink. Jesus reached out and saved Peter asking why he doubted Him. They made it back to the land and were safe.
In life, we are born as children and close to God. We are naturally safe as children. One could say that we are on land. As we grow, many of us often develop some form of addiction or otherwise compulsive negative behavior. This compulsive behavior will be called our “boat.” We get in our boat and ride away from the land which we called GOD. Our life is all fun and good for a while. Some might refer to our life as the “water.” Once we get so far from the land (GOD), storms appear. The storms cause winds and waves in the water (our life). We, in our boat (compulsive behavior) are being tossed around, frightened for our lives. The storms and winds are things such as broken marriages, legal troubles, financial problems, health problems, prison, broken relationships, etc… Most people are terrified and want to get back to safety but are too scared to get out of the boat (compulsive behavior) because the storms are so bad. They are afraid they’ll drown in their troubles. Although the boat is causing the trouble because it has taken you from God, you somehow feel more comfortable in the boat and hoping for the best. We must be brave, like Peter, and step out of the boat. We do this, just as he did. He first found out who Jesus was and focused on Him. As long as we stay focused on Jesus, we can walk across the troubled water and back to land were we are safe. In other words, we can cross our troubled life and get back to God. Sure, our feet may get wet as we do this but we will not drown or sink in our troubles as long as we stay focused on Jesus. Remember- Peter only sank when he lost focus on Jesus and started to look around at the storm.
Do you have a boat? Are you in a boat now? If so, are you going to continue to be tossed around in the storms of life or are you going to be brave and step out of the boat as Peter did, focused on Jesus, and walk back to God?
Don’t stay in the boat and hope for the best when you can have assurance in Jesus.
