How I Learned to Walk on Water

In the book of Matthew we read of the story of Peter and Christ walking on water. This has always been my favorite bible story. And, like many of you, I too have tried to walk on water.

At the time I was between the ages of 5-7, my family was on some trip to some body of water. I was young, details escape me. But this is what I do remember. I was determined that I was going to walk on the water. There was a dock and the drop to the top of the water was not that far. I ran to the end of the dock, clutching my life-jacket and stepped off. There I was, bobbing up and down in the water, utterly distraught that I wasn’t standing on the surface. Still determined, I must have tried for another 5-10 minutes, unbeknown to my family that that was what I was trying to accomplish. It never happened.

While in Galilee, this story has been sort of a theme for me. The second night in Galilee I was talking with one of my friends about my goal I had set for myself. I didn’t say much, just that it was something most people wouldn’t even think to do because of the magnitude of it. We got on the topic of walking on water and I laughed saying I should have made that my goal. In turn, he started laughing admitting he was afraid that’s what I was going to say my goal was and that he’d have to simply wish me good luck. But, it got me thinking, why couldn’t I walk on water? I have been blessed with a lot of faith, so why did it not seem plausible for me to seek to achieve such a thing.

On Tuesday the topic for my New Testament class was faith. More specifically, the story of Peter and Christ. In class we talked about the three things one must know to exercise faith. 1. There is a God, which is learned through prayer and scripture study. 2. The characteristics of God, also learned through prayer and scripture study. 3. Your will is in line with God’s will, which is learned through personal prayer and revelation. Surely, if it was God’s will I would in fact be able to tread across the surface of the sea. But, I know it is not His will for me to do this. Nevertheless, I do know that I can, that I have the potential to carry out this action, if He only bid me to do so.

Anyway, this post is not about me not walking on water, but how learned to do this. Wednesday night, one of my roommates and two of the guys here sat on the shore of Galilee discussing this particular story of Peter and Christ and our thoughts, insights, and feelings. I shared that I like to focus on how Peter got back to the boat. 1. He swam back. 2. He got back up and walked. 3. Christ carried him. Personally, I feel the latter two are more likely. Either way, Peter had to find his way back to Christ, and through it all, Christ was there, extending his hand. He was there for Peter whole time.

Now, here is the point to this long winded story. Sometimes, we need to take that leap of faith. To step out of the boat and walk on water. To do those things in our life that we feel God desires us to do. In life we will have many struggles that seem impossible, like walking on water, but if we take that leap of faith we can do it. And sometimes, we are left to fall before we are raised up again, but we are raised up if we only call out. For some it may be marriage, dating, family, school, work, and many other things that qualify as their walking on water. For me, while being in Israel and especially in Galilee I have learned more clearly what God has asked me to walk on water for. And I know I will.