As I read and pondered this passage, a question came to me: Why did Jesus wait until He and Peter were back in the boat to still the storm? I believe there are things we can learn from this story.
In Matthew’s account, after Jesus had miraculously fed 5,000 people, He made His disciples get into a boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the lake. It is interesting that Matthew says this was “immediately”, that He made them get into the boat, and that He stayed behind to dismiss the crowd. After this, Jesus went up on a mountainside, finally in the solitary place He was seeking before the crowds followed Him, to pray. He stayed there alone through the evening we are told, and already the disciples were fighting the wind and buffeted by waves. Yet it wasn’t until the 4th watch of the night (3-6 a.m.) 
that Jesus went out to them, walking on the water. They all must have been exhausted! A full day of ministry, and then awake until at least 3 a.m.; the disciples rowing against the wind for hours, and Jesus having stayed up all night in prayer.
Let me pause here for a moment. When I have had a full day, doing what God’s will is for me and seeing Him work, I’m tired. I want nothing more than to climb into bed and sleep. To be honest, I resist any further intrusions into my day. Shut off the phone, ignore social media, and just let my mind have a rest. In this passage though, Jesus didn’t let the disciples rest. He made them get into a boat and row into the wind. For hours! Sometimes it seems like Jesus has put us into the middle of very undesirable circumstances and left us alone. What do you do in those circumstances? Complain? Cry out to Him? It doesn’t seem fair and we wonder what went wrong.
It’s not surprising that the disciples were terrified when they saw Him. Our minds do strange things to us when we’re over-tired. They thought it was a ghost, and they screamed in fear. It was coming straight for them! Jesus knew their fear and told them to ‘take courage’. “It’s me”, He said, “don’t be afraid”. Apparently Peter didn’t believe Him, because he answered, “If it’s You, tell me to come to You”. I find it fascinating that when Jesus answered and told Peter to come, Peter believed Him. If it had been a ghost, couldn’t it have lied? Somehow Jesus’ answer was the assurance Peter needed that it was indeed Him.
Pause again. In the midst of the turmoil of our circumstances, is it possible Jesus comes to us as well in a way we don’t expect? Do we assume it’s something bad, when actually it’s Him? Do we believe Him when He calls out, “Take courage. It’s me, don’t be afraid”?
Peter hopped out and started walking. I wonder what the rest of the disciples were thinking? The boat represented safety in the midst of the wind and waves. Did they watch in horror, sure Peter was going to die? Were they envious, wishing they had the nerve to jump out as well? Peter was the only one to get out, and he was the only person besides Jesus to ever walk on water. Yes, it was an impulsive (and possibly foolish) act, but Peter acted. There’s a lesson for me in there too.
Then Peter took his focus off of Jesus and started to sink. Why did he sink? Because he started concentrating on his circumstances instead of on Jesus. He was probably getting splashed and wind blown as he walked. It’s easy to do and it only takes a split second of looking around at the terrible situation you’re in, and you begin to doubt. His faith wavered. What he was doing was utterly impossible. He realized he could not stand on top of water and walk.
He cried out to the Lord to save him, and Jesus caught his hand. He rebuked Peter for is doubt. He called Peter “you of little faith”. I feel like Peter was the only one who actually had faith! They got to the boat, and climbed in, then the wind died down. How did Peter get there? Did he have to swim? Did Jesus drag him through the water? Did Jesus carry him? Did he resume walking, clinging on to Jesus’ hand? We aren’t told. We only know he made it back alive. And then the wind died down. Why didn’t Jesus stop the waves as soon as Peter started to sink?
Where are you in this story? When you find yourself in the midst of on-going, turbulent circumstances, are you looking for Jesus to come to you? Are you ready to jump out of the boat when He appears, or are you hanging back in your safe place, praying for the waves of problems to stop? Jesus isn’t always in a big hurry to still the storms of our life. He wants to build our faith, and He wants us to trust Him. Is it possible He’s asking you to get out of your ‘boat’, the place where you feel safe, and walk to Him? Or do you feel like you’re already out but now you’re sinking? I encourage you to stop praying “get me out of this mess” prayers, and start asking Jesus what He wants from you in the midst of the storm. He is certainly asking you to trust Him. Will you ask Him today, wait in stillness for His answer, and be prepared to obey?
Christian Contemplative Journey 
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