Kielar Collective

A Reflection on Matthew 14

Matthew 14:25–33 (NKJV)

“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’

And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’

So He said, ‘Come.’

And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’”

There are times in our lives that we feel like we’re drowning or about to fall because our own strength alone can’t keep us up. The waves keep coming, the winds keep getting stronger and no matter how hard we try, it feels like a struggle to just barely keep our heads above water.

Instead of trying to keep yourself up all alone, turn to Jesus. In Matthew 14, Peter stepped out of the boat and began walking toward Jesus. But when he took his eyes off the Lord and instead focused on the wind and waves around him, fear took over and he began to sink.

How often do we do the exact same thing? I know that for me personally, whenever I have struggled with my faith and taken my eyes off Jesus, I have sunk. Life apart from Him is impossible.

Just look around at the world we live in today—everything is trying to take us away from our Lord and Savior. Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or simply look around you at what’s happening in our own communities and across the world. There’s so much anger, division, hatred, violence, uncertainty and suffering. People are struggling with personal battles that others may never see. Many are carrying burdens, fighting fears and addictions and wondering what tomorrow will bring.

We live in a world that constantly gives us reasons to be afraid. We can become so consumed by everything happening around us that we forget where our hope is supposed to come from. I urge you that when the things of the world bring you down, come to the Lord. Because He always meets us where we are and there is still time to repent of your sins. He is all-forgiving, but time is running out.

This is where the message of Matthew 14 becomes so important. Peter didn’t begin sinking because Jesus had disappeared. He began sinking when his attention shifted from Jesus to the storm. So when you’re going through your own storm, don’t take your eyes off the One. We can become so focused on the problems in front of us and in the world that we lose sight of the One who has the power to carry us through them all.

The Book of Revelation also reminds us not to place our hope in this temporary world, but in Jesus Christ. Be in the world, but not of the world.

Revelation speaks of difficult times, judgment, perseverance and Christ’s ultimate victory. The recent events you see when you turn on the news every day are straight from Scripture. Everything happening was prophesied—it is Biblical. No matter how dark things may become—and they will only get worse before they get better—evil does not have the final word. Jesus does.

In Revelation 21:14, we are given a beautiful promise: God will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. What a powerful reminder that the suffering we experience in this world is not the end of the story. Repent of your sins, glorify the Lord and you will be saved.

Matthew 10:22 says, “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

We don’t know everything tomorrow will bring. We don’t know what challenges we will face, what storms we will have to weather or what the future holds. But we do know who holds the future.

Matthew 14 holds something incredibly powerful. When Peter began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” and immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him.

Immediately.

Jesus didn’t wait for Peter to figure things out. He didn’t wait for him to find his footing or overcome his fear; He reached out and caught him. And He can do the same for us.

Again, when you feel like you’re falling, reach for Jesus. When life feels like it’s pulling you under, call upon Him. When you feel weak, lost, overwhelmed or unable to stand on your own, remember that you’re never alone in the storm.

Sometimes faith doesn’t mean that we never struggle or become afraid. Sometimes faith means knowing who to call when we do.

We must be careful not to let the things of this world consume us, distract us, or pull us away from our relationship with God. Instead of allowing fear to control our lives, we should strengthen our faith, stay grounded in Scripture, pray, and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Don’t let the storms of this world distract you from the One who walks on water.

The world may be uncertain, but our Savior is not. The storms may be strong, but His hand is stronger. The future may seem frightening, but our hope is in the One who has already overcome the world.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay faithful. Don’t lose hope.

And when you begin to sink, reach for His hand.

You may feel like you’re drowning, but you are never beyond the reach of Jesus.

One final note: in John 16:33, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus never promised us a life without storms, struggles or hardships. In fact, He reminds us that we will face tribulation in this world. But He also gives us something far greater than a promise of an easy life: the promise that we can have peace in Him because He has already overcome the world, and the promise of His salvation.

Keep your eyes on the Lord and not on the things of this world and not in the circumstances surrounding us, but in Christ alone. The storms of this world do not have the final say. Jesus does.