Life is sometimes overwhelming.  It can get the best of the strongest among us.  Sometimes the storms of difficulties and disappointments blow into our lives and attempt to overpower us. Sometimes we begin to sink in the sea of trials and tribulations.  What should we do when this happens?  We should remember what an apostle of Christ did when he began to sink.

During the third circuit of our Lord’s ministry in Galilee, Jesus sent the apostles out on a missionary journey.  When they returned, Jesus knew that they needed rest, so He got them on a boat and sailed across the Sea of Galilee to get away from the people.  However, when the crowd saw that Jesus had left, they ran across the northern shores of Galilee and beat Jesus and His apostles to the other side.  When Jesus saw that there was already a crowd that had gathered, having compassion on them, He spent several hours healing the sick until the day was passed (Matthew 14:13-14).

After miraculously feeding over five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two small fish, it was time to bring the day’s work to an end.  Jesus told His apostles to get on a boat and go back to the other side of the Sea while He dismissed the crowd (Matthew 14:22).  Then something happened.  The apostles found themselves caught in the middle of a storm.  It was so severe that the boat they are on is described as being beaten by the waves (ver. 24).

As the apostles were fighting for their lives, something remarkable happened—Jesus came to them walking on the water (ver. 25).  At first, they were terrified because they thought He was some kind of spirit (ver. 26).  Jesus, however, comforted them by saying, “Take heart; it is I.  Do not be afraid” (ver. 27).

At that point, Peter, being the impulsive fellow that he was, ask Jesus to command him to come to Him on the water’ and Jesus told him to do so (vers. 28-29).  Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water.  He was doing great until the strong wind caused him to lose focus’ and he began to sink (ver. 30).  Fortunately, he did the right thing and cried out to Jesus, “Lord save me.”  Jesus, of course, rescued him; and, when they got into the boat the wind ceased (vers. 31-32).  Then the apostles worshipped Jesus, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (ver. 33). 

Peter teaches us the importance of not taking our eyes off of Jesus amid the storms of life.  No matter how bad things get, Jesus must remain our focus.  The Hebrews writer tells us to run the race of life with patience, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2).  If we allow the things of this world to cause us to stop making Jesus our focus, we will sink.

Fortunately for Peter, his loss of focus was only temporary.  He knew what to do when he was in trouble.  He immediately called out to Jesus for help.  This is another great lesson we can learn from him.  The calm nature of life can become turbulent without warning.  One day everything can be going great and the next day, or sometimes the same day, we can find ourselves caught in a storm and sinking before we know it.  The question is what do we do when that happens?

We should do what Peter did and cry out to the Lord.  He later wrote, “Casting all your care upon him; for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).  Do not trust in yourself, ignoring the counsel of the Lord.  Do not count on man to rescue you.  Turn to God.  Whatever the trouble is, be it health, financial, domestic, occupational, or whatever, trust God to lift you out of the sinking water.  

Psalm 37:5 (ESV)
⁵  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.