A Walk of Faith
Friday, August 31st, 2007Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When troubles start to beset us from all sides, it so easy to forget that nothing is too hard for God. Our faith disappears so quickly and we start to have doubts about everything.
This Bible passage shows us that even when our faith fails us and we start to “sink”, God is always there to reach out His hand to us and pull us out of the water.
As troubles come at you, remember to quiet your mind and turn to the Lord in prayer. Although the answer you get may not be the one you are expecting, God will “lift you out of the water”.
“I believe that this representation of Jesus reaching out to a doubting Peter, also symbolizes Jesus reaching out to all who are sinking in a sea of sin.”
-Doug Westbrook, Artist of “Jesus Walks on Water” - A Bible Story Mural.
See Mr. Westbrook’s Bible Story Murals here.
If your church is looking for a unique way to bring the Word of God to it’s children and young people, take a look at Doug Westbrook’s Bible Story Murals. Each wall sized mural is based on the hand painted originals Mr. Westbrook created at Central Baptist Church in Houston, Texas and represents a different well known Bible story.
They are available on durable vinyl wallpaper for easy installation.