Throughout scriptures you see time after time that God allows trials to occur to bring us closer to him. Sometimes he allows trials to knock us off our feet. All of us have had trials kick us in the gut and take our breath away.
Matthew 14:22-33 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When Peter stepped out of the boat in faith to walk on the water with Jesus, he was actually walking with Jesus because he was focused on his Master. As soon as Peter saw the waves and realized he was doing the impossible he began to sink. Why did God allow the waves to be there… why didn’t Jesus have calm seas… It was to teach Peter and us a lesson. God allows the waves and trials of life to occur in our lives to bring us closer to him and depend more on him. When we are restored spiritually we are closer to our Lord and Savior… This is why bad things happen to good people… Because our Sovereign Lord and Savior has masterfully orchestrated His providence to His Glory. We need to keep our focus on Jesus and know that only through him can we be restored and begin walking with Him through the waves of life.
