Faith, Fear, and Failure
Matthew 14:22-33
How willing are you to take a step of faith into the unknown? Are you a person who like to play it safe, get all your ducks lined up in a row, do your pro-con sheet and then timidly step forward, or are you someone who enjoys the thrill of jumping out into uncharted territory?
Martin Luther wrote: “God, our Father, has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.”
If you see yourself as someone who likes to play it safe, let me say this: God is not looking for extraordinary daredevils who foolishly take risks for the thrill of it. He is looking for ordinary people who count the cost, and then willingly venture out into the unknown because they have heard the call of God and have confidence that God will hold them up.
It only takes a mustard seed faith, a little faith in a Great God to please God. And all of us in this room have that mustard seed of faith. There isn’t one person in this room who doesn’t have some measure of faith. Let me give some very common examples:
a) Any man in this room who has ever kissed a girl knows the fear and anxiety of the moment of that first kiss. But the desire to kiss the girl compels men to push through the fear, the sweaty palms, and the possibility of rejection to go ahead and lean forward for that first kiss.
b) Any man or woman who has stood at an altar before God and their friends to take a vow of marriage knows what it means to take a leap of faith into the unknown world of matrimony. There was no guarantee of success, and no previous experience to calm the fear, but couples take this leap because they are in love and they want to be married. We will step out in faith when we really want something.
c) Anyone who has ever gone on a job interview, or taken a new position has demonstrated faith despite their fear and uncertainty. You needed and wanted work and so you went through the very scary interview process. That took faith.
d) Anyone who has ever tried out for a sports team or auditioned for a music group has had to take a leap of faith that their efforts would be rewarded and that they wouldn’t be rejected. Especially if they had to face Simon Cowell.
I could give many more examples, the point I am trying to make is this: Only those who take a risk, a step of faith, and move out into uncharted territory enjoy the blessings that this life have to offer.
Eileen Guder wrote: “You can live on bland food so as to avoid an ulcer, drink no tea or coffee or other stimulants, in the name of health; go to bed early and stay away from night life; avoid all controversial subjects so as never to give offense; mind your own business and avoid involvement in other people’s problems, spend money only on necessities and save all you can. You can still break your neck in the bathtub, and it will serve you right.”
Theme: There is no failure in faith because only faith can please God!
Immediately after this, Jesus made his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake while he sent the people home. Afterward he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them at once. "It’s all right," he said. "I am here! Don’t be afraid."
Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water."
"All right, come," Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.
Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him. "You don’t have much faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?" And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.
Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed. Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus and the disciples have just spent an entire day ministering to the masses of people. Jesus had demonstrated His compassion for the crowds and His power over nature by feeding everyone who was present with just a few fishes and loaves of bread. But earlier that day, Jesus had heard the disturbing news that John the Baptist, his cousin, had been brutally murdered by Herod. So Jesus sends his disciples on ahead while He takes some much needed time to be in prayer.
Jesus spends about 8 or 9 hours in prayer and meditation up on a hillside. Meanwhile, the disciples have been rowing furiously against a strong wind. The terrain of Galilee is much like the terrain of Southern California. In Southern California they get winds that sweep down over the desert and hills into the valleys below. These winds can reach 50 or 60 miles per hour. A similar effect occurs around the Sea of Galilee. There doesn’t have to be any sign of a storm – no clouds or rain – but the winds can pick up and make travel nearly impossible.
After a full day of serving thousands of people, the disciples have now spent the better part of the night trying to row against a very strong wind. They have only made it a couple of miles from shore in about 9 hours of work. It is now about 4 in the morning and they are exhausted when suddenly they see a shape moving across the water. As the shape approaches they see that it looks like a man, and knowing that no man could walk across water – they assume it is a ghost and they scream in terror.
1. It is human nature to be afraid of what we don’t understand.
Some people have the philosophy that what you don’t know can’t hurt you. My mom is a little like that. She doesn’t want to go to doctors, because she is afraid they will tell her something bad. She thinks that ignorance is bliss, and if she doesn’t know she has heart disease or cancer – it can’t hurt her. This kind of bury your head in the sand thinking can cause a great deal of harm in people’s lives.
The disciples made a very wrong assumption about the figure on the water. They were terrified, and they wanted nothing to do with this ‘ghost’ on the water. If they had had guns, they probably would have shot first and asked questions later.
We humans often make very poor decisions based upon fear. We may marry too soon, based upon a fear of being single. We may stay in a dead-end job based upon our fear of trying something new. We may never honestly share our feelings with our spouse based upon our fear of rejection.
God knows we are fearful people, and that is why the scriptures are so full of these words: Fear Not! Don’t be afraid! Take Courage! I am with you. I haven’t forgotten or forsaken you. I will never leave you or abandon you.
Jesus comforted His disciples with these words: “It’s all right! Don’t be afraid. I am here!”
Those are words the Lord will speak often to us if we will open up our hearts to listen.
- He says them to the person who just heard that they have cancer.
- He says them to the couple who just learned that they can’t have children.
- He says them to young person who just broke up with their boyfriend or girlfriend.
- He says them to the man or woman who just lost their job.
When panic and fear begin to set in we need to adjust our focus and look for God. He is there. There are so many things in this life that we don’t know and we can’t understand. Who can understand why good people suffer? Who can understand tragedy and heartache? We may not understand our circumstances, but we can know peace in the midst of them. The key is not in knowing everything about the world around us, but knowing the one who made the world. The more you know Jesus and learn to trust in who He is, the less you will be afraid.
One night a house caught on fire and a young boy was forced to fell to the roof. The boy’s father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, pleading with his son to jump, promising that he would catch him. The boy needed to jump to save his own life, but all he could see was the flame and smoke and darkness below. The roof seemed the only really safe place to be, but his father kept yelling: “Jump! I’ll catch you! Finally, the boy cried out: “But daddy, I can’t see you.” The father yelled back: “But I can see you. I won’t drop you. Jump!”
Each of us took a leap into the darkness when we decided to turn from trusting in our own goodness to believing in the grace of Christ on the cross. We leapt into His loving arms and found forgiveness and eternal life. In the same way we began by faith, we must learn to walk by faith. When we are afraid, there is a Father who will never drop us. He calls out to us: “It’s all right. Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
2. Any step of faith must begin with an invitation from Jesus.
Does God just expect us to take foolish risks into the unknown? Are we supposed to jump off of every bridge that comes along? Is that what living by faith is all about? NO!
Only foolish people live daredevil lives tempting fate, acting foolishly for their own sense of pleasure. God isn’t looking for foolish daredevils. He is looking for people who listen to His Call, and then who respond by faith to that Call. There is no foolishness involved when we step out by faith into a lake of God’s design.
Peter shows a tremendous amount of wisdom and also faith in this story. Once he hears the voice of Jesus, He tests the voice. Jesus, if that is you then ask me to come to you and I will. Peter was not about to step out of the boat unless the Lord asked him to.
Now we need to ask some questions. Why would Peter even suggest to the Lord that He come to Him on the water? Peter was not an idiot. He was a fisherman. He knew how to swim, but he didn’t know how to walk on water. He knew the waves were really rough and the wind was strong, and that all of his experience as a human being had taught him that he weighed more than the water and he would sink if he got out of the boat.
So why does he ask God’s permission and calling to come?
- Peter had childlike faith. Jesus had commended Peter for his faith. He was the first to recognize that Jesus was the Son of God.
- Peter had had some experience of Jesus and the sea before. This account occurs after an earlier miracle. You may recall the disciples were caught in a storm at sea, and Jesus slept in the boat. They were going to drown, and so they woke up Jesus and asked Him to help. Jesus calmed the sea and the waves in an instant, and at that time Peter knew that Jesus had power over nature. He knew He was the Messiah, and could do all things.
- And so Peter wants to experience Jesus in all His fullness. Peter wants to be with Jesus (remember the time later when he jumps in the water to swim to where Jesus is). Peter believes that if Jesus can walk on water then he can too. Oh, to have child-like faith like Peter’s. If Jesus said it, I can do it – and that settles it!
But Peter shows tremendous wisdom here. He will not be presumptuous. He will not take matters into his own hands and get out of the boat without being certain that Jesus has called Him to join Him out on the water.
This is an important principle. How often do we do foolish things thinking that God will take care of it, but maybe God hasn’t called us to do that thing or given us permission? How many have leapt into marriage without first verifying that God had called them together as man and wife? How many have quit a job to pursue a career that God never intended them to pursue? How many have taken on a ministry responsibility that God did not invite them to participate in?
We must be careful to listen to God’s call before stepping out of any boats! Peter’s risk was based upon personal experience (Jesus had calmed the sea before) and upon a personal invitation from Christ. That gave Peter all the confidence he needed to step out of the boat.
Don’t rush through these verses. Think about Peter’s experience. Here is a man, weighing probably more than 140 pounds getting out of a secure craft made out of wood. Think of him throwing his first leg over the side of the boat. And then the next leg, holding on to the side of the ship. Then he puts one foot down on the water, shifting his weight. He doesn’t go beneath the waves. Then he puts his other foot on the water and let’s go of the railing. Now he is walking on water. He is doing the impossible. He takes one step. And then another. And then another. Soon he is walking at a brisk pace out towards Jesus. He is learning to walk by faith, one step at a time.
You’ve heard me say this before: Faith and Works travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of a man walking. First faith, then works, and then faith again and then works again – until you can scarcely distinguish which is one or the other.
3. When walking in faith we will be tempted to forget Jesus.
Peter is doing great. He is almost to Jesus, just a few more steps and He will have reached His goal. But suddenly he feels a gust of wind hit his face, and for just a brief moment He takes His eyes off of the Lord and puts them on the wind and the waves.
Peter had been terrified when he first saw Jesus walking on the water. Then the Lord’s words of comfort had encouraged and strengthened him enough to take a step of faith. And with the Lord’s call, Peter had stepped out in obedience and had begun to join the Lord in His miraculous work. But Peter failed to keep His eyes on the Lord and the result was that fear returned. He began to sink.
But Peter again stands as a wonderful example to us because He did the best thing He could possibly do. He cried out in prayer to Jesus. The walk of faith is often an exercise in taking one step of obedience, become fearful, crying out in prayer and turning our eyes back on the Lord, and then we are encouraged to take another step of faith.
Peter’s prayer was simple: “Lord, help me!”
Notice that Jesus doesn’t wait for him to sink a little further. He immediately grabs His hand and when they touch, Peter rises again above the wind and the waves. Then together, hand in hand, side by side – they walk on water all the way back into the boat.
Jesus is proud of Peter and His accomplishment, and so He does not rebuke Him, but encourages Him to believe and not doubt. We must remember that only Peter stepped out in faith. Remember it was Jesus who said that we only need faith like a mustard seed. It is not the amount of faith we have, but the object of our faith that matters. God is not angry with Peter, but only hopes to strengthen Peter’s faith with these words: “Why did you doubt?”
It was a lesson Peter needed to learn. “Why did I doubt?” “How can I keep from doubting the next time?” “We walked on water, and I will never forget the thrill of that. But I don’t want to sink the next time. Was I focused on Christ, or on myself? Did I have faith in Him, or was I trying to prove that I was a person of faith?
I am sure that Peter spent many hours meditating on this experience and the words of Christ. Peter needed to learn that the “Who” of faith is more important than the “What”.
Sometimes we can take risks because we think we can handle them. Sometimes we step out in faith because we are trusting in ourselves: our education, our experience, our ability to handle adversity. Sometimes we venture out into uncharted waters without the Lord’s permission. Sometimes we get out of boats Jesus never invites us to leave.
All faith is only effectual when the object of our faith is Christ and when the calling of our faith is His Will. So we must learn to listen and we must learn to seek Him and His Will for our lives. And when we do step out, we must not forget “Who” has called us and “Who” will make it happen.
Paul wrote; “Faithful is He who has called you, and He will also bring it to pass.”
4. Our worship life will grow as we learn to walk with Christ by Faith.
When Peter and Jesus walk back to the boat and step inside, Jesus calms the wind and the waves. The obstacle disappears when Jesus is in the boat with them, and together they fall at His feet and worship Him as the Son of God.
Perhaps this morning you are feeling distant from God. Maybe you feel that He is very far away, that He no longer seems to be a part of your life, and that you never see Him working in your life. Worship to you seems like a dry religious exercise that has no meaning, purpose, or joy!
There could be several reasons for this:
- Sometimes God brings us into a desert where we learn all over again to hunger and thirst for Him.
- Sometimes God is far away because we have separated ourselves from Him through our sin.
- But sometimes our worship is dry and God seems distant to us because we have refused to walk by faith. We have neglected to step out of the boat and have been content to live life battered by the wind and the waves.
- When we live by fear we experience a limited world lacking any real adventure or joy. Think of those who have a fear of leaving their homes. They are safe at home, but they know nothing of the beauty of the outdoors. Or think of those who are afraid to fly. They will only ever see the world that can be experienced by ground travel. They will never know the amazing joy of seeing life from above the clouds.
- Maybe your worship is dry and your Christian life lacks joy because you are hiding under the tarp in the boat.
- Why not take a step of faith? Why not join Jesus out on the water? Where is Jesus calling you to come?
- Maybe there is a ministry He is asking you to trust Him in.
- Maybe there is a new job He has for you.
- Maybe there is a new community He is calling you to.
- Will you follow? And if you do, remember to keep your eyes on Jesus.
When Hudson Taylor went to China, he made the voyage on a sailing vessel. As it neared the channel between the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Sumatra, the missionary heard an urgent knock on his stateroom door. He opened it, and there stood the captain of the ship. “Mr. Taylor.” He said “We have no wind and we are drifting toward an island where the people are heathen and I fear that they may be cannibals.” Hudson Taylor asked the captain: “What can I do?” To which the captain replied: “I hear that you are a man of God. I want you to pray for wind.”
Taylor replied; “All right. I will pray, but you must set the sail.” The captain stuttered: “Why that’s ridiculous! There’s not even the slightest breeze. The men will think I am crazy if I set the sails without any sign of wind.” But finally he agreed to do it at Taylor’s insistence. 45 minutes later the captain returned and found the missionary still on his knees. “You can stop praying now! We have more wind than we know what to do with.”
Taylor was willing to step out in faith and appear a fool to the captain. He was willing to leave his mother on the shores of England never knowing if he would ever see her again. He was willing to go half-way around the world by faith to a country that had never heard the Gospel. Hudson Taylor founded the China Inland Mission. By 1949 1 million Chinese had turned to Christ. Today there are more than 100 million Chinese Christians and it has become one of the fastest growing groups of Christians on earth. Thank God Hudson Taylor stepped out of the boat.
There is no failure in faith, because only faith pleases God!
1. It is human nature to be afraid of what we don’t understand.
2. Any step of faith must begin with an invitation from Jesus.
3. When walking by faith we will be tempted to forget Jesus.
4. But our worship life will grow as we learn to walk by faith.
What will you do?
