greater faith.

There’s a beautiful song I love called “Dancing on the Waves” by We The Kingdom (I specifically love the acoustic version 🙂). Part of the chorus goes like this:

“I’m reaching out, I’ll chase you down

I dare you to believe how much I love you now, oh

Don’t be afraid, I am your strength

We’ll be walking on the water, dancing on the waves.”

This song echoes a story of Jesus in the book of Matthew that has always been an encouragement to me.

Open your Bible and read Matthew 14:22-33. <3

In this story, Jesus and his disciples had just spent a long day ministering to crowds of people. Jesus sent the disciples away on a boat on the Sea of Galilee while he went away alone to pray to the Father. When it was time for Jesus to join his disciples in the boat, the boat was far out on the sea, and it was storming. So Jesus began walking out on the water toward the disciples in the midst of the storm and the waves. The disciples saw him and “they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost!’ they said, and they cried out in fear” (Matt. 14:26). Peter wanted to know if it was really Jesus out walking toward them.

“Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter answered him, ‘command me to come to you on the water.’

He said, ‘Come’” (vv. 29-30).

Peter began to step out and walk on the water, but became consumed by fear when he was distracted by the strength and power of the waves and began to sink. Jesus rescued Peter from sinking beneath the surface, but asked Peter an important question:

“You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (v. 31).

I can relate to Peter in this story. Jesus is miraculously walking on water, once again revealing his greatness and his power to his disciples. So Peter takes this step of faith out of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus, but it is when his eyes turn from Jesus to the waves that he begins to lose faith and sink. Jesus doesn’t leave him to sink in the water—he rescues Peter when he calls for help—but Jesus knows that Peter could experience so much more freedom and trust in him.

There have been moments and seasons in my life that Jesus has called me to take a step of faith, and it is only when fear, anxiety and uncertainty distracts me from the power of Jesus that I lose faith. We all have experienced situations where we have the opportunity to choose to trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, or we can be distracted and discouraged by the waves around us. Hard circumstances and sin in our lives will tell us God isn’t enough, we are too weak, and we become consumed by our own lack. I know that feeling. We strive to be good enough, strong enough and smart enough to handle the waves on our own, when really it is surrender to the power of Jesus that will keep us on top of the waves.

When we get lost in our circumstances, we often lose sight of the One who sees, knows, and loves us, and has dominion over all the world—even the seas themselves! In Jesus there is hope and peace that always triumphs, and strength that surpasses our weaknesses. Romans 15:13 says, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Where in your life are your eyes too fixed on your circumstances and your own weaknesses? Where are you sinking, when Jesus wants to pull you up and out of your despair? Is Jesus inviting you into greater faith in him?

At the closing of this story, Jesus and Peter enter the boat and the winds die down. The storm calms, there is peace, and Jesus is reunited with his disciples. Following this event, they have seen a beautiful display of the power and grace of Jesus, and his reign over creation. So they respond in the only way that makes sense.

“Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’” (v. 33).

Jesus is the main character of this story in Matthew, and of our lives every day. He is the Son of God, the Savior and King of the world. When our eyes are fixed on him, we get to see more of his grace and power displayed in our lives and in the world around us, and our hearts are filled with greater faith. Look up, friend, and embrace the beauty of Jesus and the way he loves you in ways that fulfill everything you could ever need. May we grow in our faith, so that we may learn to dance on the waves with King Jesus. <3