Walking on Water
I have been enamored with John 14: 22-31 in recent weeks. It’s the well-known passage where Peter walks on water. Many theological assessments of this passage often focus heavily on Peter during this moment, but my attention has been heavily centered on Jesus.
As I find myself in a season where I often feel like I am drowning under the weight of what God has called me to do, I find myself questioning Him, “Why would you ask me to do something that feels outside the realm of possibility? Why are you pushing me beyond my capacity? Why did you request this of me when you already knew I couldn’t do this?” So these are the eyes and the questions I come to this passage with.
Jesus, already knowing Peter would get distracted and begin drowning, still asked Him to step out of that boat. Why would a good God do that?
The quick answer goes back to my initial statement- Jesus already knew He would get distracted and start drowning, so that means He also already knew He’d be there to rescue Peter.
Yet, as I probed this passage with curiosity, confusion, and my own personal frustration, the Lord challenged me to dig deeper and when I did I found another answer-
Jesus was examining Peter’s heart.
Jesus knew Peter would “fail” at the task He asked him to do, but He still asked because He wanted to know whether Peter’s heart was surrendered enough to trust Him and obey, in spite of how things looked or what he felt in that moment.
It was in this answer I felt God giving me the answers to my own questions.
My question: “Why would you ask me to do something that feels outside the realm of possibility?”
God’s answer: “To see if you trust me to do what only I can do in your life.”
My question: “Why are you pushing me beyond my capacity?”
God’s answer: “So that where your strength and ability end, I can showcase my supernatural power.”
My question: “Why did you request this of me when you already knew I couldn’t do this?”
God’s answer: “How would you get the chance to see what I could do if you could do it all yourself?”
Here is what I am learning friends, when God calls you to do something there will be an element of it that cannot be accomplished by you. This isn’t some cruel trick God is using to set you up; it’s divine.
God’s glory shines at the end of your ability. What you think is failure is actually just the opening God needs to come in and do His best work.
Jesus knows what your limitations are and He’s prepared to meet you, but you have to take that initial step of faith.
Do you trust Him?
Are you willing to surrender?
Are you ready to obey?
