Steps of Faith

Pastor Benny Collins, Assistant Pastor of Outreach/Interim Youth Pastor

Steps of faith do not always come easily. We know that we should trust Jesus with every aspect of our lives, but obedience can be difficult when our eyes cannot see the way forward. The trials of life come and go. At times, we find ourselves on the mountaintop; at other times, we walk through the valley. So how can we daily take genuine steps of faith?



I am reminded of the account in Matthew 14:22–32. The disciples are in a boat traveling through the night. Jesus has stayed behind to dismiss the crowds and spend time alone in prayer on the mountain. The disciples have been rowing for hours and are exhausted. Sometime between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning, Jesus does something that terrifies even these seasoned sailors and fishermen: He comes to them walking on the sea.



Imagine the scene! I think any of us would have been terrified. The disciples cry out in fear, “It is a ghost!” But Jesus immediately speaks words of comfort: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”



One disciple responds with a remarkable request: “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”



Think about the conditions. It is dark outside. The boat is a long way from land, beaten by the waves because the wind is against them. These are certainly not the conditions for attempting a stroll on the water! Yet Jesus responds with one simple word: “Come.”



And Peter does something remarkable. He takes a step of faith. He gets out of the boat with the wind raging around him, walks on the water, and comes toward Jesus! But we are quickly reminded that Peter is human. He takes his eyes off Jesus and focuses on the wind. Fear takes over, and he begins to sink. Peter cries out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reaches out His hand, takes hold of Peter, and says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”



When they get into the boat, the wind stops. Those in the boat worship Jesus and declare, “Truly You are the Son of God.”



I have heard many sermons focus on Peter and his lack of faith. He was walking on the water, but then his eyes shifted from Jesus to the wind. Yet I sometimes wonder about the disciples who never attempted to step out of the boat. They made no bold step of faith like Peter did. And still, Peter is the one to whom Jesus says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”



Perhaps Peter, even with his “little faith,” demonstrated greater faith in that moment than we sometimes give him credit for. He believed that if Jesus commanded him to walk on the water, Jesus had the power to make it possible. Peter put one foot over the side of the boat in the darkness of the early morning while the wind howled around him. Then he put the other foot out and trusted that the water would bear his weight—not because of his own ability, but because Jesus had said, “Come.”



There is something for us to consider in the contrast between Peter’s action and the other disciples’ inaction. When the storms of life rage and fear begins to grow, do we stay in the boat, paralyzed by what we see around us? Or are we willing to trust the voice of Jesus and take the next step of faith?



Consider your own daily walk with Christ. In times of fear, exhaustion, loneliness, or uncertainty, may we look to Jesus and be willing to step out of the boat in faith. And as we do, may we keep our eyes fixed on Him even when the storm continues to rage.



Jesus is faithful in every season of our lives. Trust Him. Live by faith. Keep your eyes on Him!