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Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 Click here to read scripture
The scripture begins following Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. After
instructing his disciples to get back into the boat and cross over to the other side of the Sea of
Galilee and sending the people home, Jesus went up into the hills by himself to pray. He was
there well into the middle of the night. (We can imagine that solace was needed in order to give
proper thanks to His Heavenly Father for all that had been provided earlier, as well as the
nurturing He received from their relationship). Following this time of solitude, Jesus returned
to the disciples by walking on the water to their boat that had been blown about in the strong
winds. When the disciples saw Him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. Jesus
spoke to them at once. “It’s all right, he said. “I am here! Do not be afraid.” Because he was not
sure it was the Lord, Peter then tested Jesus by insisting that he tell him to come to Him by
walking on the water. “All right, come,” Jesus said. (22-29) What happened next was a true test
of faith, for as soon as Peter realized that he was able to walk on the water, he became terrified
and began to sink, shouting, “Save me, Lord!” Jesus immediately stretched out his had to him.
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (30-31)
How many times do we doubt our faith as Peter had? How often do we
give up hope? A helpful reminder for this writer is to know that by “letting go and letting God.”
the benefits I reap will be greater overall. Seeking God’s nurturing help through Jesus, in daily
devotional prayer, is not unlike tending my garden. For me, it’s a necessary habit to strengthen my
faith. When my garden is free of encroaching weeds, given the proper nourishment plus adequate
sun and rain, it grows, providing all that I expect to produce. If the growing season is too dry, I do
supplement the rain with hand watering. Being one who does not have an in-ground sprinkling
system, hand watering makes me feel closer to my plants as I personally offer them the thirst
quencher they need to thrive. I often take this time as another opportunity for solace, asking Jesus
to provide me with the thirst quenching nourishment my faith needs to grow stronger.
How does your garden of faith grow? Do you hope that it will be properly
nourished, properly tended and properly given time to produce the expected outcome? Or do
you actively participate in properly seeking the nourishment that Jesus can offer to help that
faith grow? This week, if you are a gardener, as you tend to your plants, ask for your own
nourishment from Jesus. Although we may start out with good intentions, sometimes our faith
falters. It is in those times of faltering that we most need to reach out to Jesus just as Peter did
when he began to sink into the waters. Approaching God through Jesus, with positive faith, is
how our belief will grow.
Source: (The New Possibility Thinkers Bible, New King James Version; Shuller, Dunn, 1996 by Thoms Nelson,
Inc.). Scripture taken from the King James Version, Copyright, 1982
Source: (Tyndale’s New Living Translation Life Application Study Bible, 1996).