Read Matthew 14:25-33
"And in the fourth watch of the night He 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 Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"'
Peace - that internal resolve, surety and calm - is not dependent on what's goin' on around you. That 'Jesus peace' or that "peace of God that surpasses all understanding" (Phil. 4:7) ain't understood because it ain't moved or swayed by the craziness happening around you. Make sense? It is to be cool even when it's hot outside, ya know...metaphorically speaking, of course. ;-) To a few, this notion would seem a bit contradictory or even disingenuous and unrealistic. I get that. I do. I understand. Look it...when folk ain’t necessarily actin’ all peaceable around you OR when the world seems like it's trying its best to bait you into a fight or breakdown, it may be just a lil bit challenging to be all “peace, peace”. But, to be sure: Peace ain't reactionary, fam....it's responsive. True peace isn't a reaction to given circumstances but rather a response via the confidence we have in a Loving, Powerful and Sovereign God. While I've heard it said that happiness is based on what's happening....peace, on the other hand, has a surer; more stable, consistent & immovable foundation. So then, the matter becomes not just to have peace while livin’ IN the false comforts of the 'boat', (i.e. the perceived safety & certainty of people, places, positions, possessions and/or circumstances)...but to remain in a state of sustained peace regardless of any ol’ 'boat'. ;-) Our 'boats' - whatever they may be - can't be the author of our peace, fam....nor should they be even attempted that they be made to be. They can't sustain. They just aren't capable.
It isn't an extraordinary thang to be cool and chill only when life is going your way. The truest testing, maturing & perfecting of our faith comes when we are able to have peace while OUTSIDE the temporary comforts and fleeting novelty of the 'boat'. It's when we are able to worship our Heavenly Father' thanking Him while remaining cool INSIDE the storm. See, Peter reserved his worship for when he returned to the boat with Jesus. (Matthew 14:33) His praise was conditional. However, having an attitude of praise and gratitude toward God outside of the "security" of the 'boat' - right smack in the middle of a raging sea - is where God's glory shines brightest and our testimony rings truest.
And just one more thing for clarity sake: in that passage of Scripture in Matthew 5 where Jesus is bidding Peter out to join Him on the water (a request of Peter's, by the way), Christ doesn't necessarily deny the strength of the waves. Did you notice that? He doesn't deny the windiness of the sea. Jesus doesn't disavow that this IS water He's tellin' Peter to walk out onto and wind He's tellin' him to travail through. However, on the other hand, Christ also doesn't highlight those realities or make them His focus...and didn't want them to be Peter's focus, either. Christ and Christ alone were to be the disciple's focal point. Jesus simply instructed Peter to "Come" to Him....through the wind and water. Despite the wind and the water. Jesus didn't rebuke Peter for noticing those realities. Rather, Christ's rebuke came as a result of Peter allowing the perceived strength of the wind and sea to influence him more than the King of Glory. The moment he made something other than Christ his primary focus....he sank. Flat out. The choice, as always, was his....and is ours, too.
"And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!'" ~ Matthew 14:29, 30
Peter allowed the fear of the windy sea to override his faith in the King of Kings and Master of the sea. Again, it was not that Jesus was oblivious to the sea...and similarly, we are not to pretend that trials and difficulties aren't happening around us or within us. That's not piety. That's stupidity! ;-) What the Son of Man DID do, however, was to simply invite Peter to come to Him - be with Him; meet Him out on the windy sea. He wanted Peter to assuredly & undoubtedly trust in Him despite the circumstances & surroundings. Focus on the Savior rather than focusing on the obstacle. We, as Peter learned, are to keep our gaze on The Christ, The Prince of Peace, as we - along with the aid of His Holy Spirit - navigate through the waves and strong winds of a world inclusive of storms and hardships. Get outta the boat...eyes fixed on the Son! And before you know it - when you look down, they'll be no ground. You'll be standing on water. Nice... :-)
For further reading, check out: Mark 4:35-41
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"For if we are beside ourselves [mad, as some say], it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:13 (Amplified Bible)
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