“And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it be You, bid me come unto Thee on the water.'” Matthew 14:28
As long as there is sin, there will be storms. Those storms may take various forms, and may vary in strength. They are declared “storms” because of the power that they possess, and the effect that they may have upon objects in their paths. In one of several accounts of storms at sea where the Lord Jesus was involved, we find several great truths revealed to us. The first has to do with the fragility, even vulnerability, of man. Not only is man very limited in every way when faced with the overwhelming power of a physical storm, but he is also helpless when facing spiritual opposition, a spiritual storm. It is as we come to grips with our own helplessness in and of ourselves, that we become candidates for God to move and work in our behalf. This is so because the glory is all His.
The second thing that we see in these accounts of storms is that Jesus is NOT moved by them. In one account, He is sleeping on the boat in the raging storm. In another, He comes walking on the surface of the water. Twice we see His sovereign power and authority over wind and waves simply by either a word spoken, or by Him being received into the ship. The point is that Christ is Almighty God, able not only walk upon the waves of the raging sea, but to speak a word for the entire sea to become calm. He is LORD of the physical elements, but also, of the spiritual ones, for He speaks healing into the sick, and life into the dead.
It is relatively easy to recognize our helplessness, and Christ’s sovereign power. That which brings the great lessons of the storms of life into perspective, and at the same time, answers the questions with regard to how we are to face them, is revealed to us by something Peter said to the Lord Jesus, while Jesus was walking on the waters, and Peter was in the boat. He simply said, “Lord, if it be You, bid (or command) me come unto You on the water.” (Matt. 14:28) Here is a man who has come to grips with his helplessness, the sovereign power of God, but goes a step further, as he desires to KNOW himself this very victory in the storm. The dividing line between the other disciples and himself is this, he wants to know if indeed the One who is walking on the water IS the Lord, and secondly, if it is, he desires to be a participant in that very victory. The Lord Jesus was certainly very pleased that Peter would be so forthright in his desire to be sure that it was the Lord, but also, in the expression of his heart’s desire to PROVE the Lord in the storm. So, how do these truths apply to us…in the storms of life?
The psalmist, writing of the sea, the waters roaring and being troubled, speaks of “the city of God,” His dwelling place, in opposition to them. He goes on to write, “God is in the midst of her; she shall NOT be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” (Ps. 46:5) So, we have the city of God which is assailed by the “storms,” and earthquakes of life. In this picture of uncontrollable movement and disarray, there is one CONSTANT, the very real presence of God. The question then becomes for us is: “Do we KNOW who it is in whose presence we live, regardless of the storm?” And also, do we KNOW for sure that He wills that we overcome the storm by faith in His power and authority? Peter needed to know if what he saw was truly the Lord. We do also. This is why the Psalmist writes: “Be still, and KNOW, that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (v.10)
Dear Father, Give us to KNOW Thy presence, and the certainty of Thy present help. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad