Commit Fully

At the ripe age of 7, I was entrenched in the world of gymnastics. Having the ability to do the splits was the least impressive thing my little body could do at the time. I spent hours at the gym practicing routines and conditioning, and convincing my parents to buy (yet another) leotard with sparkles. 

The beam, however, was my personal nightmare. 

My coach would say, “If you are going to do something, you have to commit fully, or you could hurt yourself”. There were many times when I would ‘commit’ to something, and mid-flip, mid-jump, mid-action, my mind would bail out in fear. I spent quite a bit of time flat on my back, lying on the mat underneath my archenemy in those days after many falls. 

In Matthew 14:22, Jesus had just finished feeding the five thousand and sent his disciples away, immediately, to start the trek across the sea while he went off on his own to pray. 

A storm arose, and the boat was far from land. It was ‘beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them’ verse 24 says. This was not the first storm that the disciples had experienced while following Jesus (Matthew 8:23-27). The difference is that the last storm they encountered, Jesus was with them in the boat. 

This time, as the wind blew and the waves rose, Jesus came to them — walked right out onto the water in the middle of the night to meet them. Terrified of the storm and the mysterious man heading towards them, the disciples assumed they were being approached by a ghost (vs 26). Jesus, in his kindness, spoke to them: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

What happens next is so typical of Peter. His initial response was to ask Jesus to let him walk on water as well—the audacity. But… Jesus invited him out onto the water. Walking on water, defying all laws of gravity, Peter headed towards Jesus. What Peter thought was a simple request, Jesus knew as a test of Peter’s faith. 

Peter was making progress toward the Lord Jesus when, all of a sudden, he began to notice the wind and waves around him. Panic set in. Immediately, he began to sink. “Lord, save me!” He cried. Again, the gracious and kind Jesus reached out his hand and took hold of Peter. 

“Oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus asks. We do not see a response from Peter or the disciples until they reach the shore and the storm ceases. They all responded by worshipping him and declaring him the Son of God. Obviously.

I see so much of myself in Peter. How often my faith turns little and opens the door to doubt. I see my circumstances as bigger than the Jesus who leads me through them, and I cling to my finite mind and ideas to lead the way when the sovereign God of the Universe is my faithful shepherd. 

Time after time, the Lord reaches out, gives me his hand, and saves my life. 

This story reminds me, in many ways, of my beam journey in gymnastics. “If you are going to do something, you have to commit fully, or you could hurt yourself.” My coach so frequently said that to me seconds before she would catch me mid-air to help save me from serious injury. Much like my coach, Jesus gives us the gift of faith to trust him fully. As we walk in faith, eyes locked on Jesus, we can walk on water, face the storms, and see the beauty of the King of Kings. When faith becomes small, we require extra mercy and grace for Jesus to reach out his hand and pull us out of the drowning. 

Time and time again, the Lord is faithful to reach out his hand — even when we aren’t fully committed, even when we are dripping in fear, and even when we are disobedient and rebellious towards him. Oh, we of little faith, may we find the strong, saving hands of Jesus in the trials and storms of this life over and over again.

His oath, his covenant, his blood
Supports me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand.

These articles follow our church-wide reading plan. To read with us, click here.