"Jesus 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 … they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, 'It’s a ghost!' But Jesus spoke to them at once. 'Don’t be afraid. Take courage [cheer up]. I am [the Son of God; not a ghost].' 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 [very courageously] went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he [took his eyes off Jesus and] saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified [he panicked] and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted. Jesus immediately [and reassuringly] 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. Then the disciples worshiped him. 'You really are the Son of God!' they exclaimed" (Mt 14:22-32).

In every dangerous, terrifying, difficult, faith-testing, patience-trying, harrowing, disappointing, demoralizing, heart-breaking, unbearable, life-threating, strength-sapping, despairing, agonizing situation, and in many other truly daunting circumstances, where do we fix our eyes? On the problem confronting us? Or on Jesus? The Bible tells us in such circumstances to picture him when he was on the cross enduring the pain and scorning the shame that we might be saved and bring joy to his heart (Hb 12:2).

For Peter, it was a terrifying, life-threatening moment. Had Jesus not saved him, he would have drowned for the boat was about 5 km from land and in huge stormy waves. Leon Morris writes, "Matthew does not say that Peter ceased to sink and resumed his place of walking on water, but that is implied". John Calvin believed that those in the boat "included not only the disciples but sailors and other passengers". If all this is true, which seems to me to be the case, this lifts the whole event to a new level. There were many witnesses, and Peter was not held up by Jesus until he returned him coughing and spluttering to the boat; he again walked on water back to it with Jesus and they both climbed in! Amazing!

It was a situation into which he voluntarily stepped; apparently for no other reason than to experience the supernatural and affirm in his own heart that Jesus was indeed the Son God. What grace Jesus shows us; always affirming and encouraging; never criticizing those whose hearts maintain a fixed repentant attitude.

For us it may be very different – a drawn out numbing experience that lasts for many years. However the principle remains the same: when we fix our eyes on Jesus we find encouragement to endure, but when we take our eyes away from his beautiful face and absorb all the negative factors and possibilities around us we can soon be overwhelmed and sink into doubt and despair.