When it feels like life is falling apart, it becomes easy to take our eyes off of Jesus. It feels as if He’s so far away and you begin to question if He’s ever coming back. Things begin to feel hopeless and you’re ready to give up.
I’ve been there.
I’m going to be honest, at the time of writing this, I am there. This season of life has been a struggle and honestly I don’t know how to keep up on it all. But I know that, through it all, God is still good.
As I was studying the passages for this post, the Lord gave me a reminder that He’s still right here. He sees and knows all. He’s going to work it all out for my good. I don’t need all of the answers, I just need to be obedient.
Today we’re diving into Jesus walking on the water. This is covered in John 6:16-21, Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 6:45-52. Unless otherwise mentioned, all verses are in the ESV translation.
John 6:16-21
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31vJesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Mark 6:45-52
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
It was dark.
The first passage I read about this was in John. Immediately what stuck out to me was that it was dark. In verse 17, it says that it was dark and Jesus had not yet come to them. The disciples were told to go out on this boat and they obeyed. They were to meet Jesus back in Capernaum. But then it got dark.
This has been my experience over and over again with following the Lord. It’s so wonderful to be in His presence and then suddenly you’re in the dark. You listen to what it is that you’re told and you’re being obedient and it feels like you’ve been abandoned.
Now not only were these disciples in the dark on a boat, but it began to storm. A rough wind began to blow and they were being tossed about. So they listened to what Jesus told them to do and now they’re stuck in the dark in a storm. Reading through their experience I can see mine.
Obedience lead to a Storm
According to my ESV study Bible, “If the Feeding of the Multitude took place at the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, the shortest distance to Capernaum would be 5-6 miles.”
The first half of this trip they did on their own, living on pure obedience. They were in the storm because of their obedience and Jesus hadn’t even joined them. So let this be a reminder that hard times and rough waters don’t mean that you’re doing something wrong. Obedience to God isn’t always comfortable and easy. In fact, it’s usually not.
Matthew 14:25 says that Jesus joined them at the fourth watch, which is between 3AM and 6AM, which means, according the ESV study Bible, that they had been battling the storm for over nine hours.
Nine freaking hours in a storm. I bet that felt like an eternity as all storms do. I feel like I’ve been in the same storm all my life, getting out only to come right back. It feels like I’m drowning waiting on the Lord to pull me out.
Jesus saw them
But what I love is that in Mark 6:48 we see that Jesus sees them in their struggle. When Jesus sees that it’s becoming too much for them to handle, He shows up. I don’t know about you, but I needed this. I needed the reminder that Jesus sees it and is on His way. It brings me so much peace knowing that He hasn’t abandoned me.
What I find interesting, though, is that when the disciples saw Jesus on the water, they were frightened. Because He didn’t show up in a way they expected, they panicked. They allowed their fear to take over and they lost it. Once again, I relate to this. I understand that feeling of Jesus finally showing up but not recognizing Him.
In our lives, this happens often. Jesus doesn’t fit into the box we put Him in so when He appears as something we don’t expect, we lose it. We spiral and freak out, begging God to save us from the exact thing we’ve been praying for.
For me, it was this blog and podcast.
I didn’t want to do it at first, I didn’t know how to. I have so much on my plate already how on earth would I manage to add something else? But He told me over and over again that if I just listened, He’d do the rest. I won’t lie and say it’s easy now, but I know that I’m supposed to do this. I know that it is my calling. With everything in me I believe that He’s doing something big through my obedience. But I had to see Him first. And unfortunately, like Peter, I tested Him.
Command me.
In Matthew 4:28, Peter says to Jesus, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
Now this part isn’t biblical, this is just my own opinion. But I read this with a daring tone. You know when the kid at school dares you to do something and then looks back at all of his friends for validation with a big smirk on his face? This is how I read it. I don’t think he expected Jesus to call him out, but He did.
And he did it.
He walked on water. While His eyes were focused on Jesus, He was walking on water. But the moment He got distracted by the storm, he started to sink. When he cried out for help, Jesus stepped in and saved him.
When they got back in the boat, not only did the storm calm but they were right where they were going. They still had 2-3 miles left of their journey but Jesus took them the rest of the way. John 16:21 says that “they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”
Jesus took them
When Jesus did meet them, He took them the rest of the way faster than they could ever imagine. The journey was rough but Jesus took them the rest of the way.
There’s so much more to dive into regarding this story but let’s recap what happened.
- Jesus told them to get in a boat and leave. They obey.
- It gets dark and it begins to storm.
- They battle the storm for over nine hours.
- Jesus sees and greets them on the water which frightens them.
- Jesus joins them in the boat.
- They suddenly end up at their destination.
Take some time to study this. How can you apply it to your own life? How can you see this play out?
Try to see where you’re at in this process.
This brings me so much peace because I know Jesus is coming. Whether I’ve just begun obedience or I’m in the thick of the storm, He sees me and He’s coming.
If you read this and you’re still struggling, I recorded a podcast titled Where WERE You? Sharing my experience in a storm and wondering where God was. It may be helpful to you.
If you’re navigating rough waters right now, Jesus hasn’t left your boat—He’s still speaking peace over the waves.
My Free Prayer Journal gives you space to pour it all out, reflect on Scripture, and meet God right in the middle of the storm.
Download it here and let His presence anchor your heart.
