How To Walk on Water: Peace in the Storm

Perfect Peace in the Storm

This is when I learned how to walk on water. When my husband died suddenly, everything I knew to be stable in life fell apart. We were in the thick of a military move across the country with no earthly thing to depend on for stability but each other. And then we lost that too. I had young children depending on me, a shattered heart, a frozen mind, and massive decisions to make. We needed to buy and sell homes and find a church family and schools.

I found peace in the storm even when it made no sense. That peace was unexplainable. And I discovered that God’s love for me was unshakeable even when literally everything in my life was being shaken. Turbulence, trials, tragedy… that’s putting it mildly. I knew I should have been drowning in that storm, but somehow, instead, I learned to hold Jesus’ hand and walk on water. God kept me upright and on top of the waves. And this is how.

A Visual Picture of Peace-Walking (And Lack Thereof!)

The story of Peter stepping out of the boat is best visual illustration of how when we turn our eyes on Jesus, we can [walk on water]. And it graciously shows us how we quickly we can sink in the storm when we take our eyes off of Jesus too!

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong^[c] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

                Matthew 14:22-32

Calming the Storms in our Minds

I am so grateful for this story because while it happened in real life for Paul, it happens in real life in my mind often. I look around and think, “Wow! I’m upright and walking on water when I know I should be drowning right now!”

And then the second I turn my focus off of praising God, thanking Him, and keeping my needs in prayer… the second I start noticing just how big those storms waves are crashing around me, then I quickly go under. I find myself overwhelmed or sobbing or feeling alone or concerned, and the waves drown out the peace I once had.

The beautiful thing is that once we notice we are going under like that, we can quickly know what to do to get back on top of the storm. Reach back out to Jesus. Call on His name. Look full in Jesus’s wonderful face.

Practice [trusting in Him].

Practice [praising Him].

And practice [giving Him thanks].

Practicing these things makes peace.

And just like that, the storm clouds lift just above us and the raging seas quiet just around us, we find ourselves in a little lifeboat of peace and a tiny patch of quiet waters even if the storm rages on in our circumstances.