On the 6th June 1944 the allied forces commenced what would become known as one of the most significant events of the 2nd World War. What once was unthinkable, was put into action on D-Day. I have visited the Normandy Beaches, and the American and Commonwealth War Cemeteries on three different occasions. Every-time I have been moved by the vast amount of graves in those cemeteries, but also by the terror and fear that must have faced those brave soldiers during those hours of deployment. As I have stood on the pier at Port-en-Bessin and watched the waves roll onto Omaha Beach, I couldn’t help but wonder ‘how did they do it?’ I am sure those brave soldiers asked themselves ‘how will we ever do it?’ as the command to ‘Get out of the Boat’ was given.
That is a question which I am sure we all ask ourselves from time to time about situations we face – ‘How will we [or I] ever do it?’ Recently I have been thinking a bit about Peter and a boat journey he was on and about a command he was given to get out of the boat. In Matthew chapter 15 verses 22-33 we read about a boat journey. The disciples were in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee and Matthew tells us that the crossing wasn’t the smoothest (verse 24). While the disciples were battling against the wind and waves they saw Jesus coming towards them, walking on the water. Naturally, at first, they were terrified, but Jesus spoke comforting words to them. He said ‘Take courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Peter responded by asking to come to Jesus on the water and Jesus invited him to do so. We believe that Peter was the oldest of the disciples, and in being so, he should have had more sense. However, Peter threw his legs overboard and started to walk on the water towards Jesus.
If we imagine the boat to be our own lives, the place where we are comfortable. Jesus is outside of the boat and calling us to come to Him. The water is our fear and insecurities. We could be forgiven for looking at our lives, and then looking at the place Jesus is calling us to go to and think ‘How will I ever do it?’ However, we need to remember that Jesus will never ask us to do anything which He knows we can’t do.
One of my favourite verses is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Whenever the water of fear and insecurity rages against me I try to hold fast to the promise in this verse. The Christian Author John Ortberg gave one of his books the title – ‘If you want to walk on water you’ve got to get out of the Boat’.
Walking on water takes an immense amount of courage, but with it comes a sense of contentment, fulfilment and overwhelming Joy. We know that with every step, Jesus is walking on the water with us.
That is a question which I am sure we all ask ourselves from time to time about situations we face – ‘How will we [or I] ever do it?’ Recently I have been thinking a bit about Peter and a boat journey he was on and about a command he was given to get out of the boat. In Matthew chapter 15 verses 22-33 we read about a boat journey. The disciples were in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee and Matthew tells us that the crossing wasn’t the smoothest (verse 24). While the disciples were battling against the wind and waves they saw Jesus coming towards them, walking on the water. Naturally, at first, they were terrified, but Jesus spoke comforting words to them. He said ‘Take courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Peter responded by asking to come to Jesus on the water and Jesus invited him to do so. We believe that Peter was the oldest of the disciples, and in being so, he should have had more sense. However, Peter threw his legs overboard and started to walk on the water towards Jesus.
If we imagine the boat to be our own lives, the place where we are comfortable. Jesus is outside of the boat and calling us to come to Him. The water is our fear and insecurities. We could be forgiven for looking at our lives, and then looking at the place Jesus is calling us to go to and think ‘How will I ever do it?’ However, we need to remember that Jesus will never ask us to do anything which He knows we can’t do.
One of my favourite verses is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Whenever the water of fear and insecurity rages against me I try to hold fast to the promise in this verse. The Christian Author John Ortberg gave one of his books the title – ‘If you want to walk on water you’ve got to get out of the Boat’.
Walking on water takes an immense amount of courage, but with it comes a sense of contentment, fulfilment and overwhelming Joy. We know that with every step, Jesus is walking on the water with us.
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