What Are You Looking At?

If you have a sibling, chances are you have asked him/her, “What are you looking at??” Today, as your sister in Christ, I want to ask you the same thing.

Last time, we marveled at Peter’s faith in asking Jesus for the opportunity to walk on water with Him, and how he demonstrated that faith by jumping into the waves of the storm with both feet. For Peter, it was that faith that helped him leap out of the boat, but quickly changing his focus to his fear, got him into some deep water. Here is Matthew 14:22-31 again:

The Trial

Verse 24 describes the trial the disciples were going through. The boat was… buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Imagine yourself in a small craft and the wind and waves suddenly pick up and toss you about. The boat shifts precariously from one side to the other, while at the same time rising up and over each wave. The upheaval in the equilibrium, and furthermore the stomach, would most likely be unbearable.

To Be Buffeted

If we look at the word buffeted in the Greek, it gives us an even more colorful picture of the experience. Buffeted means to be tortured, tormented, straining, in pain, and suffering. This is a strong and serious verb that the author chose to describe what the little boat and its occupants were going through. This was not just a little bit of wind they were experiencing. A buffeting would definitely spark some anxiety and fear.

Our Own Kind of Buffeting

When we go through trials of our own, sometimes we feel this buffeting – as if even the wind is against us in our pain and suffering – especially if it is a trial that we have endured for a long period of time. Sickness, difficult relationships, or loss of a loved one are just a few examples of buffeting we might endure. If you have been through something that made you feel tortured, opposed, or brought you pain, you’re not alone.

Peter’s Faith and Big But

Faith pleases Jesus (Hebrews 11:6), so He tells Peter to come join Him on the water. Yet, it only takes a few moments for the situation to change direction, from moving forward to sinking down. Verse 30 begins with a big “but”. Peter walks toward Him, BUT when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

What is Peter Looking At?

What happened?? Did the circumstance change? No. The storm, wind, and waves were all the same. What changed was Peter’s focus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid. My first thought is, “Now, Peter. You knew that storm and those waves were there the whole time. Come on…” And he did. Only, when He saw his Savior, all the danger and fear fell away. It was just the two of them in that moment of faith. As soon as his focus shifted back onto the storm, what happened? He began to sink in his trial.