As the river cruise ship pulled off the dock at Westminster Pier onto the Thames River, my bravado waned. As the ship gained speed, my heart gained pace. Instead of enjoying the historic views, I sat wringing my fingers nervously because I was in unfamiliar territory. Staring at the glassy sea, I imagined the braver me stepping out and walking on water. The thought was exhilarating and my thoughts wandered to Peter, his expertise with water and his out of the box experiences with Jesus.
Peter’s first encounter with Jesus was at the Sea of Galilee after an unusually long and disappointing night of fishing. Peter had tried all the fishing maneuvers but caught nothing. In the morning, exhausted, he washed his nets and pondered the implications of the fruitless night – no food and no fish to sell.
Just then, Jesus started teaching by the seaside and when the crowd pressed in on him, he stepped into Simon’s boat, and taught from there. After His teaching, Jesus asked Peter to launch out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch. Peter said to Him “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net”. (Luke 5:5)
As an experienced fisherman, he knew that daytime was the worst time to fish. Yet Peter decided to act on the word of Jesus. He caught a multitude of fish that day and became a disciple of Jesus.
On another occasion, Jesus sent his disciples across the river while he went to pray on the mountain. At night, Jesus walked on the sea to meet them. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified because they thought He was a ghost. Jesus spoke to the to allay their fears and Peter made a daring statement: “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus beckoned to him and Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus!
Everything in Peter’s training screamed that men don’t walk on water. Y et he ignored his conditioning, stepped out of the boat and walked on water to Jesus. However, when he gazed around and saw that the wind was boisterous; he became afraid, and started to sink.
Peter knew the waters, but the situations he encountered trumped his expertise. However he experienced the impossible because he acted on the words of Jesus.
Don’t let your experience stand in the way of what God is about to do in your life. When you act on the words of Jesus, you will experience the impossible!
God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you think.
Step out on the waters and walk with Jesus. His grace abounds in deepest waters. (Click to listen to Hillsong UNITED’s
You are not bound to the confines of the ordinary. Trust God for the impossible.
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