Friday, May 16, 2025
Immediately He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while He sent the crowds away. After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat [by this time] was already a long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!” Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him [with awe-inspired reverence], saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!” Matthew 14:22-32
How To Keep From Sinking When Your Faith Is Exhausted
This past Sunday we heard the story of Jesus asleep in the boat with the disciples. There is another story where Jesus had fed the 5000 and sent the disciples to go ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while he went up on the mountain to pray. He would follow them and meet them on the other side when he was ready. The disciples set out but were fighting against strong wind and the waves. It took them a very long time and during the fourth watch of the night, which was between 3-6 am, they were still fighting their way across. They looked up and saw Jesus coming toward them, walking on the sea. They were afraid, not sure at first what they were seeing. But Jesus spoke to them and assured them they did not need to fear.
We have all had long nights, long days, weeks, months, and even years where we have been fighting our way through every second. Those times are a beating. We lose sleep. We probably don’t eat right. We worry and are constantly stressed. We lose faith and hope. The disciples had to be so exhausted. They were probably worried and a little scared that they may not actually reach the other side. They had not been able to sleep now their eyes were playing tricks on them, seeing things that were not really there – such as a ghost walking toward them on the water. They realize it was Jesus and Peter immediately challenged that if it really was Jesus he would command him to come to him on the water. Jesus said “Come!” Peter did and walked on the water toward Jesus. Only when he looked down at the waves at his feet did he begin to sink. He called out to Jesus, and he caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Jesus waited until the fourth watch of the night to come to the disciples. This was the darkest part of the night, a time of struggle and fear for the disciples. When all hope is lost, in the darkest times, God brings light and deliverance. The disciples were exhausted and defeated, having battled the weather most of the night with every ounce of their human strength. It felt like the storm was going to defeat them, but Jesus came and spoke the words that calmed the sea and changed everything.
The disciples were physically exhausted. Their prayers were exhausted. Their expectations were exhausted. Their hope was exhausted. Their faith was exhausted. Jesus wasn’t coming or he already would have been there. Have you felt this way before? When it seems there is no reason to hope at all, does your faith feel weak? Do you ever feel like Jesus isn’t coming or has abandoned you?
In the darkest part of the night, when it feels all hope is lost and we have tried everything, and when it feels like Jesus isn’t coming for us, it is time to surrender all to him and stand on our faith. When our faith feels the weakest, that’s when he is the strongest. He wants us to trust him with our exhausted prayers, expectations, hopes and faith. We need to keep our eyes on him and not the waves at our feet threatening to drown us. And like Peter, when we do begin to sink, we can call out to him and he will catch us.
