Foundation of Faith
In Matthew 14, we witness a remarkable sequence of events. After the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, Jesus directs His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee while He retreats to a mountainside to pray. Picture the disciples’ exhilaration after experiencing the miracle, the provision, the revival that had just taken place! I can only imagine the excitement filling their conversations as they traveled home that night.
Yet, as night falls, their journey becomes exhausting. A strong wind rises, and they find themselves battling heavy waves. In the midst of this turmoil, Jesus approaches, walking on the water. When the disciples see him, fear takes over and they mistake him for a ghost. But Jesus immediately reassures them:
“Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here!” (Matthew 14:27)
This moment highlights a profound truth: our external circumstances may not change, yet we can trust in the God who holds everything together. In his book The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence writes, “The key to living in the presence of God is to always be aware of His presence and to continually turn our hearts and minds towards Him.”
Recognizing it is Jesus—the One who had performed the impossible just hours before—Peter’s faith propels him out of the boat. “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water,” Peter exclaims a verse later (v. 28). Accepting Jesus’ invitation, Peter steps out onto the water, with his focus on Jesus empowering him to transcend the storm’s chaos.
Peter’s actions demonstrate how faith in Jesus allows us to defy impossible circumstances and enables us to overcome fear and disappointment. There may be wind, waves, and utter chaos surrounding us, but inner peace is tangible when our focus is placed on Him. We can project faith into our future by trusting in His power to do the impossible.
However, as Peter becomes distracted by the magnitude of the wind and waves, fear once again takes hold, and he begins to sink.
“‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me?’” (Matthew 14:30-31)
Together, they return to the boat, and the wind ceases, leaving the disciples in awe.
Oh, how we are so much like Peter! We experience revival and feel His presence one minute, then immediately come face to face with our fears. Enter: doubt, frustration, and setback.
“It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6:48-49)
The strength of our faith and the foundation of our lives depend on our focus and attention. When we trust in His power and keep our focus on Him, we can face any storm with confidence. But when we let fear and distractions pull our focus away, our foundation can become shaky.
Even then, Jesus is ever-present, ready to catch us and restore our faith.
JOURNAL: What does your foundation look like? Where are you placing your trust, focus, and attention? As we begin a new year, I believe God is calling us to examine our foundation. Dig deeper, go deeper with the Lord, and ask Him to help you identify areas that need a touch of faith—a touch of His miraculous power.
Yet, as night falls, their journey becomes exhausting. A strong wind rises, and they find themselves battling heavy waves. In the midst of this turmoil, Jesus approaches, walking on the water. When the disciples see him, fear takes over and they mistake him for a ghost. But Jesus immediately reassures them:
“Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here!” (Matthew 14:27)
This moment highlights a profound truth: our external circumstances may not change, yet we can trust in the God who holds everything together. In his book The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence writes, “The key to living in the presence of God is to always be aware of His presence and to continually turn our hearts and minds towards Him.”
Recognizing it is Jesus—the One who had performed the impossible just hours before—Peter’s faith propels him out of the boat. “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water,” Peter exclaims a verse later (v. 28). Accepting Jesus’ invitation, Peter steps out onto the water, with his focus on Jesus empowering him to transcend the storm’s chaos.
Peter’s actions demonstrate how faith in Jesus allows us to defy impossible circumstances and enables us to overcome fear and disappointment. There may be wind, waves, and utter chaos surrounding us, but inner peace is tangible when our focus is placed on Him. We can project faith into our future by trusting in His power to do the impossible.
However, as Peter becomes distracted by the magnitude of the wind and waves, fear once again takes hold, and he begins to sink.
“‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me?’” (Matthew 14:30-31)
Together, they return to the boat, and the wind ceases, leaving the disciples in awe.
Oh, how we are so much like Peter! We experience revival and feel His presence one minute, then immediately come face to face with our fears. Enter: doubt, frustration, and setback.
“It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6:48-49)
The strength of our faith and the foundation of our lives depend on our focus and attention. When we trust in His power and keep our focus on Him, we can face any storm with confidence. But when we let fear and distractions pull our focus away, our foundation can become shaky.
Even then, Jesus is ever-present, ready to catch us and restore our faith.
JOURNAL: What does your foundation look like? Where are you placing your trust, focus, and attention? As we begin a new year, I believe God is calling us to examine our foundation. Dig deeper, go deeper with the Lord, and ask Him to help you identify areas that need a touch of faith—a touch of His miraculous power.
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