The day that Jesus walked on water was unforgettable. I am sure Peter never forgot that day because it was a day that he also walked on water (Matthew 14:22-33). It had been a long day for Peter and the other apostles. Jesus spent many hours healing the sick, then, sensing that His disciples needed some rest from the recent missionary journey from which they had just returned, He sailed with them across the Sea of Galilee to get away from the crowds. The problem was the crowd beat them to the other side, and Jesus ended up healing people for a while longer. Finally, He told the disciples to get into a boat and sail back across the sea while He went up the mountain to pray for a while (Matthew 14:22, 23).

While sailing across the Sea of Galilee, the apostle’s boat got caught in a storm. As they struggled to survive, Jesus came walking on the water and rescued them (vers. 26-27). That is when Peter got the idea to walk on the water also. He said to Jesus, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water,” and Jesus told him to come (ver. 28). It went well at first. The Bible says that Peter “got out of the boat and walked on the water” (ver. 29). Then something went wrong. The waves distracted Peter, and he lost his focus. He took his mind off of Jesus and began to sink; but, it is what Peter did next that is important.

Matthew 14:30 (ESV)
³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

Have you ever found yourselves sinking in the storms of life? If you say yes, you are not alone. Even as Christians, we sometimes take our minds off of Christ (where they should be) and begin to sink. The question is, what do you do next? People act in many different ways when trouble overtakes them. Some begin to feel sorry for themselves, become despondent, and quit. That reaction leads to drowning. Others immediately blame others for their problems, refusing to take responsibility for the situation in which they find themselves. That just prolongs the agony. Peter, however, did the right thing—He cried out to the Lord.

It was Peter’s fault that he was sinking, but that was not important at that moment. Once he is safe, he can learn from his mistake (and, ultimately, he did); but, it was critical that he first turn to the right source for help. Once Peter cried out to the Lord, Jesus took control of the situation, lifting him to safety (ver. 31).

You might be surrounded by turbulent waves right now and beginning to sink. What will you do next? This could be a critical juncture in your life with eternal ramifications. The storms of life sometimes swallow people up and ruin them. Many Christians have lost their faith and drowned under the depths of difficulties and despair. You can take a different course. You can do what Peter did and cry out to the Lord. He will lift you up.

If the trouble you find yourself in is sin-related, you cry to the Lord by repenting of your sins and asking God for forgiveness (Acts 8:22). If you are just perplexed by the struggles of life, more faith might be the solution. That is what Peter needed at that moment (ver. 31). You might be far from faithless; still, a little more faith might solve your problem.

If you are being battered by the waves of life and find yourself sinking, the real question is, how are you going to improve your situation? What will you do next?

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