Unraveled by Uncertainty: Lessons from Peter Walking on Water
Have you ever had a moment where you felt totally out of your depth—like you were stepping into something way bigger than you could handle? That’s exactly what we see in Peter’s story this week. It’s a story that holds both the miraculous and the all-too-human: a flash of bold faith, a wave of doubt, and the comforting grip of grace.
When the Storms Won’t Let Up
The story begins right after Jesus has fed thousands of people with just a few loaves and fish. The disciples are sent ahead across the lake while Jesus stays behind to pray. Night falls, the winds pick up, and the boat gets battered by waves.
Then something astonishing happens—Jesus comes walking toward them on the water. Understandably, the disciples are terrified. They think they’re seeing a ghost! But Jesus speaks up right away: “Take heart, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Unraveled by Uncertainty
That’s when Peter does something incredibly brave—and incredibly human. He calls out, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus says, “Come,” and Peter steps out of the boat. For a moment, it works. He’s walking on water! But then the wind howls, the waves crash, and Peter starts to panic. His focus slips. His courage unravels. And down he goes.
But here's the beautiful part: even as Peter sinks, Jesus reaches out and grabs him. Immediately. No lecture. No scolding. Just a hand, stretched out in love.
Peter’s leap of faith and sudden falter remind us that doubt isn’t failure—it’s part of the journey. Faith isn’t about walking on water perfectly. It’s about trusting enough to step out of the boat, and crying out for help when the waves get too big.
Step Into the Swell by Lisle Gwynn Garrity, acrylic on canvas. Used with permission by A Sanctified Art.
Faith That Doesn’t Need All the Answers
This story has echoed through Christian imagination for centuries. In Dante’s Paradiso, the poet imagines Peter in heaven asking Dante about his faith—testing it like his own was tested on the water. Dante’s answer? Faith doesn’t come from having all the answers. It comes from learning to trust the One who calls us, even when we don’t understand how it’s all going to work out.
Peter didn’t need to understand the physics of walking on water. He just needed to hear Jesus say, “Come.” And when he started sinking, what saved him wasn’t his own strength—it was the presence of Christ, steady and sure.
Presence Over Perfection
There’s something deeply comforting about this story. It reminds us that faith doesn’t promise perfect understanding or smooth sailing. What it does promise is that Jesus will be with us in the middle of it all.
Maybe you’re facing storms of your own right now—uncertainty, fear, or distractions that keep pulling your attention away from what really matters. If so, you’re not alone. Like Peter, we all have moments where our courage unravels. But those moments don’t have to define us. They can become the very places where grace meets us, grabs hold of us, and pulls us close again.
Let this story be a reminder: even if the wind is strong and your faith feels shaky, Jesus is still near. Even in your most uncertain moment, there’s a hand reaching out. And sometimes, the greatest act of faith isn’t walking on water—it’s letting yourself be caught.
