Faith in the Storm

I’ve been sitting with Matthew 14:22–33 this week, and I can’t shake the image of Peter stepping out of that boat.

Jesus had just fed thousands, the crowds were fired up, and He immediately sent His disciples away. Why? John tells us it’s because the people were about to force Him into kingship. Jesus knew the hearts of the crowd…and the hearts of His friends. So, He sent them into a boat, into a storm.

Let that sink in: Jesus sent them into the storm.

It wasn’t an accident. And it wasn’t punishment. It was preparation.

Out in the middle of that storm, Jesus came walking toward them. And Peter stepped out of the boat. For a moment, his eyes were locked on Jesus, and he did something no one else in the boat had the courage to do: he walked on water.

But then… the waves. The wind. The fear.

Peter started to sink.

Can I just say… I’ve been there.

I’ve had moments where I stepped out in faith, sure I was doing what God called me to do… only to get overwhelmed when the storm rolled in. Fear crept in. Doubt whispered. And like Peter, I cried out, “Lord, save me!”

And just like He did for Peter, Jesus didn’t hesitate. He didn’t lecture first. He didn’t shame him.

He reached out His hand.

Scripture implies they walked back together to the boat—Jesus and Peter, side by side.

And when they climbed in, the storm stopped.

That’s a mark of a disciple.

Not that we never doubt. Not that we never sink.

But that we lean on Jesus when circumstances get scary.

Because He’s always there. In the storm. In the fear. In the faith. In the fall.

And yes… in the rescue.

Friend, if you’re in a storm right now, lean in. He’s closer than you think.