Faith to Walk on Water

Matthew 14: 22-33 (NRSV) Preached by Tracy Ekola

Faith to Walk on Water. 

Faith is a gift from God, given freely, not earned.  Trusting in that gift allows us to walk through life with the calm and peace that Jesus gives.

What does it mean to have faith like a child?  To have a childlike faith,  simple and unwavering trust, like a small child trusts their parents or grandparents.  Trust to live carefree knowing we are loved and cared for.   Faith to believe and go forward w/o proof. When I was young, my grandfather would take us fishing.  He loved ice fishing and would bring a loaf of bread and hamburger to fry up in the fish house if we didn’t catch any fish.  We would be there all day, and there was a bunk bed in the fish house to take naps when needed.  When the ice moaned and groaned as it shifted or cracked, it never bothered me because my grandfather explained it to me early on, so it must be okay.  Faith to walk on water, well, frozen water, and sleep on the frozen lake without a care.  Childlike faith.

Picking up from last week’s gospel, Jesus had just fed a very large crowd (more than 5000), starting with only 5 loaves and 2 fish. Afterwards, the disciples may have been wondering, “How is this so?”  or maybe proclaiming, “another miracle!”  In today’s gospel, Jesus quickly sends the disciples off in their boat across the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus also dismisses the crowd and then goes up on a mountainside to pray alone.  

Now here is where the action starts…later in the night, when the boat was far from land, a storm arose. The Sea of Galilee was and is known for its violent and sudden storms.  Their boat was being tossed about, and the disciples must have been terrified. This had happened once before in Matthew 8:23-27; however, Jesus was asleep in the boat when the storm raged, and when His disciples woke him up in fear.  Jesus declared to them, “O you of little faith” and He calmed the storm.  The disciples had exclaimed, “What sort of man is this that even the wind and sea obey him?” So by this time, the disciples have seen Jesus perform healing miracles, calm storms, and feed the crowd with 5 loaves and 2 fish.  Jesus has given the disciples plenty of reason to trust in Him. 

Now in today’s reading from Chapter 14 – not only does He show his divinity by walking on water and calming the storm, but he also invites even deeper trust and further reveals himself to the disciples.  This story shows us a pattern of both belief and doubt.  The disciples had many experiences prior to this night where Jesus guided them safely.  Now they are again scared and fearful.  Jesus was with them even if they didn’t realize it.  And he comes to save.  Eager, trusting Peter steps out on the water in the raging storm with that childlike faith, but then looks around and begins to doubt instead of keeping his eyes fixed on God.  This night was a turning point for the disciples.  They are learning to put their trust in Jesus.  For this was the first time the disciples declared, “Truly you are the Son of God.”    This is a key story about faith in the gospels. 

How do we have faith? Faith is a gift from God, Ephesians 2:8 states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”  Faith is given to us through His grace, it is not earned by our works or doing. God’s gift of faith to us does not depend on us or our works. 

So does our faith just exist within us without any action? Well, yes – its there as God gives it to you.  What do we do? Simple - trust in God.  And faith isn’t one and done proposition.  Faith is day after day putting our trust in Jesus, God’s saving grace. Submitting ourselves, our will, our ways, all to God, every day, even when we are not sure. Peter’s stepping out shows us his faith in action. And yet he still doubts. 

Are there days where your faith falters?  Times when you doubt or question? Do you fear the divisions and hate in this world? Do you feel overwhelmed by the storms of life?  I do.  It is human nature to fear and doubt.  Jesus’s disciples show us this time and time again.  So, this may or may not sound easy… to just accept Jesus’s invitation when he says, “Come”.  In the storms of our lives or in the business or busyness of our lives, we falter, we ignore, we doubt. To doubt is human.  Thanks be to God for Jesus, and the Holy Spirit for continually touching our lives to bring us closer to the outstretched hand of God and his everlasting gift of faith.  God treats us as his children, ever protecting, ever watchful, and he wants us to have faith like a child, never doubting Him.  As a child, we trusted.  As we live in this world, however, doubt casts fear and ambivalence into our lives. 

How should we respond?   Jesus called Peter and calls us to “come” to Him.  Our lives are constantly being formed and conformed to Christ.  Engaging in spiritual formation builds our trust in God.  There are many ways of spiritual formation to help our trust grow. 

Pursue God’s Word. Daily reading the Bible.  Starting with one verse/day or maybe one chapter a day.  This story in Matthew 14 and so many others in the gospels describe how Jesus is teaching the disciples about trust and faith. 

Caring for Others. Being aware of our neighbors, helping and loving them through their times of storms.  This builds trust in God and in our neighbors and in ourselves.

Pray Often.  Pray here on Sundays and pray every day, wherever you are.  Pray for the strength to accept Jesus’ invitation and to trust Him every day.  Pray for the strength to continue your faith journey.  Pray that you may have “the faith like a child.”  Our relationship with our Creator is that of an all-loving parent. Unconditional love, unconditional grace.  Imagine the embrace of a Father or a Mother for their child, never letting go of their love.  In Matthew 18:3, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”   Childlike faith.

God’s gift of faith is powerful for our lives.  Jesus calls us to act in faith every day.  Building Faith is a two-way street. God gives freely to us.  Our response should be the same – trusting Him like the faith of a child.  Our part is to trust. That is all he asks.  God’s Word, His disciples, and our faith family are all gifts to strengthen our trust in Him.  Surround yourself with people of faith.  Pray with someone and do it daily.  Pray that you may have the faith like a child.  Jesus shows the disciples his unwavering saving grace.  Trust Jesus to calm the storms in your life.

Let us pray - Faithful God. Help us accept Your unconditional gift of faith rooted in steadfast grace.  When uncertainty overloads us, calm the storm and strengthen our trust in You for Faith that endures, brings peace, and draws us closer to Christ each day.  Amen.