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The theme for our reflection is “stepping out of the boat in storms.” Jesus’ disciples were far away from Him on the sea when their boat encountered a storm, their boat was hit hard by the waves. Matthew tells us that “in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” ²⁸ And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:25-33)

Beloved in the Lord, a storm is a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow. Metaphorically, a storm is anything that causes disturbance, discomfort and challenge in our lives. Usually, it is dangerous when stepping out during a storm, and it is even more dangerous and fearful when stepping out of a boat during a storm. Until the boat is totally destroyed by the storm and its violent waves, the boat remains a safer place until those in it are rescued by a bigger ship. Nonetheless, Jesus made it possible and safer for Peter to step out of the boat in the storm and come to Him. Peter, upon seeing Jesus in the midst of the storm said “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:28-30). Peter’s desire was to step out of the boat in the storms, Jesus did not stop Him but welcomed Him. There was something much more terrifying than the storm which made Peter sink and that was fear.

Dear friend, what is fear? Fear is the unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm. Jesus knows the devastating effect of fear in the life of a believer, therefore His first words to the disciples, when He came to them in the midst of the storms, are “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27). When we entertain fear in the face of life’s storms and challenges we may begin to sink like Peter. Fear causes us to focus on the storm and not the Master of the storm! Why did Peter sink? In Matthew 14:30 we are told that “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” It means that initially, everything was fine until fear made him perceive the storm as bigger than the Master of the storm who commanded Him to Come. Beloved in the Lord so long as you are willing to follow the command of Jesus by stepping out of your turbulent and stormy situations, fear and doubt will be the biggest obstacles in your life.

Dear friend, the biggest obstacles to your life in times of storms, challenges and difficulties are not the storms, challenges or difficulties themselves but the fear and doubts they create in your mind and heart. Just as Peter was afraid and began to sink, many people, especially believer have failed because of fear and doubts caused by their existential challenges. The fear of re-writing exams and the doubts of whether or not one will pass has made many people give up on their dreams of becoming doctors, accountants, lawyers or whatever they had wanted to become. The fear of failing in business or an investment and the doubt of whether or not one will succeed has made many people stagnant or retrogressive in life. The fear of restarting a new relationship after a failed one and the doubts of whether or not it will succeed has made some people give up on relationship and marriage. The fear of not getting help from anyone and the doubt of whether or not one will survive is the reason why many young ladies continue to sleep with married men and have multiple sexual partners. It is the same reason some young men are engaging in fraud and armed robbery. Fear and doubt are doing more harm to many people than the challenges they are going through. Some people are being manipulated and abused yet they keep going to the same place because of fear of rejection in their lives. Beloved in the Lord, “when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. (Matthew 14:30-32).

Dear friend, Faith in the Lord overcomes fear and doubts in the midst of storms. Faith makes us perceive our storms and challenges as surmountable even us we are strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome them. Hebrew 11:1 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” When Abraham was called by God to leave His Father’s house, His faith overcame any fear and doubt of the uncertainties of the future. We recall the woman who was hit by the storm of enduring blood flow for 12 years, fear and doubt did not make her give up. “She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased…And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8:44,48) Again, Goliath’s intimidation did not cause David to give up in fear and doubt, David had faith in the Lord and boldly said to Goliath “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”… And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.” (1 Samuel 17:45,49) Goliath was the storm David had to face but David never entertained fear and doubt like the whole army of Isreal who had run into hiding because of Goliath’s stature and intimidation. David’s faith in God was enough to turn his feeble strength into a resounding victory for Israel. Dear friend, which storm is causing fear and doubt in your life? Jesus is commanding you to put your faith in Him and step out in the midst of the storms of your life and you will not sink. Let us remember that “without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6). Again, the Lord assures us through the Prophet Isaiah that “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith to overcome fear and doubt occasioned by life’s challenges and storms. Enable us to always experience the glory of God through faith in every situation we find ourselves in. Amen.