by Rev. Dr. Dezo Schreiner
I do not like it when I’m driving on the highway and suddenly my car feels like it’s drifting in a direction I didn’t choose. That feeling of losing control is uncomfortable.
I do not like heavy rain either, especially when I’m walking in it or standing outside while the wind pushes against me.
Why? Because I have no control over those things. The wind does whatever it wants. The rain does whatever it wants.
And sometimes life feels exactly like that.
During this Lenten season, our church has been reflecting on spiritual discernment–how we recognize God’s voice and God’s direction for our lives. But discernment often happens right in the middle of wind and rain. It happens in uncertainty. It happens when we step into places where we do not have control.
And in those moments, we are invited to do something difficult: trust God.
When Life Feels Like a Storm
Our scripture comes from Matthew 14:22–33, the well-known story of Jesus walking on water and Peter stepping out of the boat.
The story takes place right after Jesus feeds the five thousand. The crowds have eaten, the disciples have served the food, and Jesus sends the disciples ahead by boat while He goes up a mountain to pray.
Night falls.
The disciples are far from shore.
The wind becomes strong.
The waves begin battering the boat.
In the ancient world, the sea represented chaos and danger. It was a place where human control disappeared.
And that sounds a lot like the storms we face today.
Some storms are personal:
grief
illness
betrayal
uncertainty about the future
Some storms are communal:
injustice in our society
division in our communities
systems that harm the vulnerable
And some storms are spiritual–moments when we ask:
“Where is God in all of this?”
God Shows Up in the Middle of the Storm
It is in the middle of this storm that something unexpected happens.
Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the water.
The disciples are terrified. Honestly, I would be too. They think they are seeing a ghost.
But Jesus immediately speaks to them:
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Those words are deeper than they appear.
In Greek, the phrase “It is I” is Ego Eimi, which translates as “I Am.”
This is the same divine name revealed to Moses at the burning bush.
Jesus isn’t just saying, “It’s me.”
He is revealing the presence of God in the storm.
And here is one of the great truths of the Christian faith:
God does not wait for the storm to end before coming to us.
God comes in the middle of the storm.
Not after life gets easier.
Not after the waves calm down.
Right in the middle of the chaos.
Peter Steps Out of the Boat
Then Peter does something remarkable.
He says:
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
Jesus answers with a single word:
“Come.”
Peter steps out of the boat.
For a moment, the impossible happens.
Peter walks on water.
But then he notices the wind. The waves feel stronger. Fear rises. And Peter begins to sink.
He cries out:
“Lord, save me!”
And immediately, Jesus reaches out His hand and catches him.
Faith Is Not the Absence of Fear
Sometimes we misunderstand this story.
We treat it like a story about Peter failing.
But think about it.
Peter is the only disciple who got out of the boat.
The others stayed where it felt safe.
Peter took the risk.
And that is what faith often looks like.
Faith is not the absence of fear.
Faith is the courage to trust God even when fear is present.
Following Jesus Means Leaving the Boat
When we talk about Christian discipleship, especially when it comes to justice, compassion, and loving our neighbors, it often feels like stepping out of the boat.
It means:
challenging systems that seem immovable
standing with marginalized people
speaking truth even when it’s uncomfortable
believing that God’s vision of love and justice is still possible
And the winds of the world can blow strongly against that kind of faith.
But discipleship has never been about staying comfortable.
Serving God has never been about staying in the boat.
It has always been about trusting when Jesus says:
“Come.”
When Your Personal Storm Feels Overwhelming
Maybe right now you are in the middle of a storm.
Maybe someone you trusted walked away.
Maybe you lost a job you thought was secure.
Maybe a relationship broke in ways you never expected.
Maybe someone you gave your life to betrayed you.
Storms come in many forms.
And in those moments, I want to invite you to do what Peter did.
Look for where Jesus might be standing and pray:
“Lord, if it is you, tell me to come.
Tell me where to go.
Tell me what to say.
Tell me what to do.”
Because even when the wind is strong, Jesus is still calling us forward.
Trust Is the Heart of Discernment
During this Lenten season we are asking an important question as a church:
Who is God calling us to become together?
Answering that question requires discernment.
And discernment requires trust.
Trust that God is still working.
Trust that God is still guiding.
Trust that even when we falter, Christ’s hand is already reaching toward us.
Jesus never asks us to walk on water alone.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Eventually the disciples return to the boat.
The wind stops.
And they fall before Jesus and say:
“Truly you are the Son of God.”
Their understanding deepens.
Their trust grows.
That is what seasons like Lent can do for us.
Even when we have seen God work before, we sometimes forget in the middle of the storm.
So we remind ourselves again.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Keep them there.
Because when we focus on the wind and the waves, we begin to sink.
But when we focus on Christ, we find the courage to keep walking.
And that is the only way we will make it to the other side.
Summary Q&A
What is the main lesson of Peter walking on water?
The story teaches that faith means trusting Jesus even when life feels uncertain or frightening.
Why did Peter begin to sink?
Peter began to sink when he focused on the wind and waves instead of keeping his eyes on Jesus.
What does this story teach about trusting God?
God often calls us to act in faith before the storm is over. Trusting God means stepping forward even when we feel afraid.
How does this apply to everyday life?
Life storms—loss, uncertainty, injustice, or personal struggles—require us to trust God’s guidance and presence.
What does stepping out of the boat represent?
It represents faith, courage, and obedience to God’s call, especially when following Jesus requires risk.
What is the promise of the story?
Even when we falter, Jesus immediately reaches out to lift us up. We are never alone in the storm.
Thumbnail Picture Credit: Linoleum block print by Elizabeth Steele Halstead