Stepping Out of the Boat

I was born in a fishing village. The water was not just scenery; for many, it was life. My uncle was a fisherman, and early in life my Dad was a fisherman too. I grew up around people who understood boats, weather, nets, long hours, and the smell of the water. But I learned fairly quickly that I was not called to that life. I remember going out fishing with my uncle one time, and I got sick almost right away. It did not take me long to know that I was not going to be a fisherman. Some people feel at home on the water. I felt like I wanted to get back to land.

That makes Peter’s step out of the boat even more meaningful to me. Peter was a fisherman. He knew the sea. He understood storms. He knew what waves could do. He had likely spent many nights on that water, and he knew when things were dangerous. So when Peter stepped out of that boat, he was not acting out of ignorance. He knew exactly what he was stepping into. The wind was contrary. The waves were real. The boat was the safest place to be from a human perspective. But Jesus was standing outside the boat, and that changed everything.

The great lesson is not simply that Peter walked on water. The greater lesson is that Peter walked toward Jesus. The miracle was not in Peter’s courage, personality, or experience as a fisherman. The miracle was in the word of Christ: “Come.” Peter did not step out because the storm stopped. He stepped out because Jesus called him. Sometimes we wait for the winds to calm before we obey, but faith often begins while the wind is still blowing. The safest place in that moment was not the boat; it was wherever Jesus was.

Of course, Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off the Lord and looked at the wind. I can understand that too. It is easy to talk about faith when we are dry, safe, and standing on shore. It is another thing when the waves are rising around us. Fear has a way of making the storm look bigger than the Saviour. But even then, Peter prayed one of the shortest and most honest prayers in the Bible: “Lord, save me.” And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him.

That blesses my heart. The Lord did not let Peter drown because his faith trembled. Jesus did not turn away because Peter became afraid. He reached for him. The same Lord who called Peter out of the boat was the Lord who caught him when he began to sink. There is great comfort in that. Our faith may be weak, but His hand is strong. Our steps may falter, but His mercy is near.