Simon Peter could relate quite well to this. In Matthew 14 we find Jesus hearing that John the Baptist has been killed by Herod (10-13). So Jesus attempts to depart to a solitary place but the people hear about it and go out to Him at which time Jesus had compassion on the multitude and healed the sick among them (14). Then, when evening came His disciples asked Him to send the people away but Jesus tells them to feed them. They mention that all they have is five loaves and two fish. So Jesus asks for them, blesses them and ends up feeding 5,000 men plus women and children and still had twelve baskets of leftovers (20-21).
Next Jesus sends the disciples away in a boat while He sends the multitude away and then finds a solitary place to pray.
Imagine what the disciples must have been thinking and talking about as they left in the boat. They saw many people healed. They saw Jesus bless a few loaves and fishes and somehow feed thousands of people yet end up with more leftovers than they started with!
Next we find them struggling to row their boat in strong “contrary” winds and waves. That’s when they see Jesus walking towards them on the sea! Of course they’d be troubled but Jesus quickly reassures them (26-27).
Peter, seeing this and most likely having considered all that had happened that day, suddenly says, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Wow! Peter is seeing Jesus for who He really is. And, of course, Jesus responds by saying, “Come” (28-29).
What more command does Peter or any other followed of Christ need? The Master calls and we respond. Peter gets out of the “ship” and walks “on the water, to go to Jesus.” Amazing! Peter, a flesh and blood human being just like you and me is now doing the impossible by walking on the water (30)! But, then the bottom falls out.
He becomes aware of the “boisterous” wind, becomes afraid and starts to sink (31). What happened? It’s really quite simple: he took his eyes off Jesus and allowed the situation around him to distract him from Jesus.
What believer hasn’t allowed that to happen? I can testify of the same thing many times in my walk with Jesus. All is well then suddenly the conditions around me seem to overwhelm me and I forget that Jesus has promised never to leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). As soon as that happens I find myself all alone (at least I think I’m all alone) and the wind and waves begin to swallow me up.
When that happens we have to cry as Peter did, “Lord, save me” (30). And notice that Jesus “immediately stretched forth His hand, and caught him” (31). We may forsake Him but He’ll never forsake us! And we need to ask ourselves the same thing that Jesus asked Peter as soon as he saved him, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
That’s an excellent question that we would do well to meditate (think, ponder) on.
We need to remember that Jesus said He was sending us out as sheep amongst wolves (Matthew 10:16). Sheep are easily distracted by anything out of the ordinary and we can be distracted too, IF we don’t learn to keep our eyes on our great Shepherd who has promised to meet all of our needs, even if the wolves around us are howling and looking threatening.
But if you do discover that you’ve been distracted by the situation around you and feel as if you’re sinking into the flood water, remember to cry out as Peter did: Jesus, save me! And rest assured, He will.