Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)
Series: The Gift of Faith
Courage. According to the dictionary, courage is the quality of mind or spirit enabling a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc.—without fear. Without fear being the tricky part, right? Sometimes in my life I felt invincible, even fearless, and I was okay with being a risk taker in my younger years. How about you? Do you remember a time when being brave was required of you AND you moved forward without fear?
We have different perceptions of what courage looks like. Most of us probably think courage kicks in when we take action in a dangerous situation, but this isn’t always the case. It takes bravery for some of us to change jobs, move to a different city, seek the help of others, or even try a new hobby. The degrees vary, but it all takes boldness to make something different happen. Even in our faith life, there will be times we must step out of our comfort zone to accomplish what God has set before us. Is there something in your life God is calling you to do which may require a little extra strength? Do you need the reminder that God equips you for His purpose?
Jesus’ disciple, Peter, found out about courage, focus, and trust all at once in Matthew 14:22-33. Let’s read this passage together:
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. After dismissing the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone. But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning, He came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter answered Him, “command me to come to You on the water.” “Come!” He said. And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
The disciples wouldn’t have left Jesus willingly, but Jesus urges them to get into the boat and go. Then, when evening arrived, Jesus took time to pray once the crowds were gone. The boat was in rough waters for hours, but Jesus didn’t go to them until three in the morning. How would you feel? Helpless? Frightened? But then, Jesus appears—walking on the water—through the wind and waves. The men were rightfully afraid, never having witnessed a man walking on water before. But when Jesus spoke, Peter responded quickly, “Lord, if it’s You, command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus did. Peter went.
Peter’s desire to draw near to Jesus was stronger than his fear. He knew the power of Jesus was greater than the storm—at least for a moment. Taking his focus off Jesus caused Peter to sink into the sea. Peter’s faith was enough to get him out of the boat, but it was not enough to carry him across the water. Jesus reached for him and pulled him close with the words, “why did you doubt?” How often do we also take a step forward in our calling and then freeze because our eyes become locked on our weaknesses instead of God’s power within us?
One commentary shows us proof of a few important affirmations about Jesus in this passage:
Proof of His Divine Authority – He made the disciples get into the boat. They obeyed His command to do so.
Proof of His Divine Knowledge – Jesus knew of the situation long before it happened, and He did not rush from His prayer time to help. The storm and the disciples were equally in His hands and He knew infinitely better what was best for God’s glory.
Proof of His Divine Protection – The disciples cried out in fear as He approached, but Jesus calmed their fear by saying simply, “Take Courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Despite the raging winds and waves and their fear stricken minds, they recognized the voice of their Master.
Proof of His Divine Power – When Peter and Jesus got back into the boat, the wind stopped. Jesus didn’t have to say a word. The miracle had occurred, and the wind ceased.
“The Lord takes us as far as our faith will go, and when it ends, we begin to sink. It is here we call out to Him, and He again demonstrates His faithfulness and His power, and our faith learns to extend much further.” (The McArthur New Testament Commentary.)
May you have courage to stand on your faith in Jesus as you encounter trials in life. And may your faith grow stronger as you trust more deeply in Him.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Psalm 91; Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:6-7