Walking Where the Waves Are
Walking Where the Waves Are
There’s something deeply appealing about the shoreline. The sand beneath our feet is steady and familiar, grounding us in what we know. The water is close enough to touch—full of possibility—yet far enough to avoid discomfort or risk. From the edge, we can watch the waves roll in and still believe we’re part of the moment, all while staying safe. The shoreline is a place of comfort and observation, a threshold between certainty and the unknown.
But we see in *Matthew, 14:22-33, that when Jesus came walking toward the disciples on the water, He didn’t call Peter back to the safety of the beach. Instead, He invited him into the very heart of the storm—a place where fear and faith collide, and where comfort is surrendered for the possibility of experiencing the miraculous.
Walking on the water was never about Peter’s strength, bravado, or confidence. It was about simple, raw obedience in the midst of uncertainty. The miracle didn’t happen because the storm ceased or the waves calmed—it happened precisely because Peter stepped out while chaos still surrounded him, trusting that Jesus’ command was greater than his circumstances.
How often do we linger at the shoreline, mistaking proximity for faithfulness? We pray, we listen, we observe—but our feet remain planted in the sand. We wait for calm seas before embracing costly obedience. Yet Jesus often meets us not in the absence of the storm, but in the very center of it—where our dependence on Him is all we have.
The beach allows us to stay dry, unchallenged, and in control. The water, however, requires the courage to surrender certainty and the humility to trust. One lets us hold onto our plans; the other demands we let go and depend fully on Jesus, even when the outcome is unclear.
Peter began to sink when his focus shifted from Jesus to the swirling winds and towering waves—but even then, Jesus was close enough to grab his hand. The storm didn’t disqualify Peter, nor did his moment of doubt end the story. Grace met him exactly where fear threatened to overwhelm.
Sometimes the greatest act of faith isn’t just believing that Jesus can calm the storm. It’s trusting Him enough to step out onto the waves while the storm still rages—knowing that His presence is our anchor, no matter how high the waters rise.
* Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus Walks on the Water
22) lmmediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23) And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24) but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25) And lin 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, q“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 rwalked on the water and came to Jesus. 30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, s“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 vthose in the boat wworshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”