Steps of Faith: Walking on Water with Jesus

Sep 15, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Stepping Into the Storm’s Dark Unknown

The disciples fought heavy waves in the dead of night, straining against forces beyond their control. When Jesus appeared walking on chaotic waters, their fear blinded them to his presence. Yet he spoke directly into their terror: “Take courage. I am here.” Faith begins not when storms cease, but when we hear Christ’s voice over the wind. His nearness matters more than the outcome. What feels like a ghostly threat might be the Savior drawing near. [34:22]

“But Jesus spoke to them at once. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘Take courage. I am here!’”
(Matthew 14:27, NLT)

Reflection: Where do you need to hear “I am here” today? Name one storm where you’ll choose to listen for Christ’s voice over your fears.

Day 2: Clay in the Potter’s Storm-Soaked Hands

Peter’s water-walk became a lesson in surrender. Like wet clay on a potter’s wheel, his faltering steps exposed his need for the Potter’s grip. Jesus let Peter sink enough to feel his weakness, then pulled him close. Every storm-walk shapes our dependence—not on our ability to stay upright, but on the grip of the One who walks on waves. Formation happens mid-step, not after the storm. [43:34]

“And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.”
(Isaiah 64:8, NLT)

Reflection: What current struggle might Jesus be using to reshape your understanding of dependence? How is he inviting you to trust his grip over your footing?

Day 3: The Sacred Cry That Keeps Us Afloat

Peter’s “Save me!” became holy ground. His sinking wasn’t failure but the doorway to experiencing Christ’s rescue. Waves teach us to voice our desperation—not as shameful weakness, but as the prayer that activates divine reach. When we stop pretending we can walk alone, we discover the immediacy of Jesus’ response. The water’s chill becomes the warmth of his grasp. [46:41]

“Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. I am sinking in deep mud. There is no solid ground. I am exhausted from crying for help.”
(Psalm 69:1-3, NLT)

Reflection: What “sinking” feeling have you been reluctant to voice? How might speaking it aloud open you to Christ’s immediate help?

Day 4: Obedience Over Outcome on Choppy Seas

Jesus didn’t promise calm waters when he said “Come.” He promised himself. Peter’s obedience wasn’t about conquering waves but answering the call—even if it meant sinking. True faith responds to Christ’s voice, not calculated outcomes. Every “yes” to Jesus, whether it leads to walking or flailing, reshapes our identity as those who follow the Voice more than the visible. [52:53]

“If you love me, obey my commandments.”
(John 14:15, NLT)

Reflection: What invitation have you hesitated to accept because you’re fixated on the waves instead of the One who walks on them? What’s one step you’ll take today?

Day 5: Worship in the Boat That Survived the Storm

After the rescue, the disciples didn’t applaud Peter’s effort or their survival skills—they worshiped Jesus. Storms become sanctuaries when they reveal Christ’s true identity. Our hardest steps of faith find their purpose not in our stories of bravery, but in the collective awe of who Jesus proves himself to be. Every storm-survived boat becomes a chapel. [47:54]

“Then the disciples worshiped him. ‘You really are the Son of God!’ they exclaimed.”
(Matthew 14:33, NLT)

Reflection: What storm in your past now invites you to worship Jesus differently? How will you honor that story today?

Sermon Summary

Life is a series of steps, some small and ordinary, some big and frightening, and many of the most meaningful moments begin before anyone knows how they will turn out. Matthew 14 places the disciples in just such a moment: exhausted, far from land, fighting wind and heavy waves in the darkness. Jesus comes toward them walking on the water, doing what Job and the Psalms say belongs to God alone, making his pathway through the mighty waters.

Jesus meets the disciples before he changes their circumstances. Jesus does not begin with, “You knuckleheads,” or even, “You have so little faith.” Jesus says, “Take courage. I am here. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus reveals his presence in the storm, and that presence becomes the ground of their courage. Faith is not the absence of fear. Faith is choosing to trust Jesus in the midst of fear.

Peter hears Jesus say, “Come,” and Peter steps out of the relative safety of the boat onto the very waters that had terrified him. Peter does not step out because the storm has stopped or because he knows the outcome. Peter steps out because Jesus is on the water and Jesus has called him. Steps of faith remain frightening because control over the outcome is never promised, but Jesus remains present with those who follow him.

Peter’s walk also becomes formative. Peter walks on water with Jesus, but Peter shifts his attention to the wind and waves, becomes aware of his weakness, and begins to sink. Peter cries, “Lord, save me,” and Jesus immediately reaches out and grabs him. Peter’s imperfect faith becomes clay in the hands of Jesus. Jesus uses both the walking and the sinking to reveal Peter’s dependence and to give the disciples a clearer vision of who he is. The disciples finally worship him, saying, “You truly are the Son of God.”

Steps of faith are ultimately steps of obedience. Jesus does not form his way around human independence, comfort, or the desire to have every answer first. Jesus calls his followers to form their lives around his life, surrendering what must be surrendered so the Holy Spirit can shape them. Peter does not step out for an adventure or to prove something. Peter steps out in response to the invitation of Jesus.

Baptism gives that obedience a public form. Baptism does not declare that a person has everything figured out or will follow Jesus perfectly. Baptism declares loving trust in Christ and a public response to his call. Jesus still says, “Come,” inviting his people to forgive, ask for help, serve, surrender sin, begin again, or finally say yes. Obedience is faith taking the next step onto the ridiculous waters that Jesus treads so beautifully and perfectly.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith trusts Jesus amid fear Faith does not require a person to pretend the storm is small or the water is safe. Jesus meets frightened disciples with his presence before he removes the wind and waves. Courage grows not from controlling the outcome, but from knowing that Jesus is there. [42:28]
2. Jesus forms disciples through dependence Peter’s sinking does not cancel Peter’s walk with Jesus. Jesus uses the moment of weakness to expose Peter’s need and to draw forth the only prayer that matters in the water: “Lord, save me.” Dependence on Jesus is not faith’s failure; it is faith’s deepening. [46:41]
3. Obedience responds to Christ’s invitation Peter does not climb out of the boat to chase a thrill or prove spiritual strength. Jesus says, “Come,” and Peter answers that word with movement. Biblical faith is not reckless risk; it is a response to the voice, leading, and calling of Jesus. [52:27]
4. Baptism publicly says yes to Jesus Baptism does not claim perfection or complete understanding. Baptism gives visible expression to a believer’s loving obedience and trust in Christ’s way. Jesus calls people into the waters as a public declaration that his way leads to life.

## [56:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:15] - Gratitude and a Change of Plans
[25:29] - Life Is a Series of Steps
[30:56] - Visible and Quiet Steps of Faith
[31:59] - Matthew 14: Jesus Walks on Water
[36:13] - Steps of Faith Can Be Frightening
[39:30] - Take Courage, I Am Here
[43:34] - Steps of Faith Are Formative
[46:28] - Lord, Save Me
[50:52] - Steps of Faith Are Obedience
[55:51] - Baptism as Loving Obedience
[58:17] - Will You Obey Jesus’ Invitation?

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, 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

Sermon Clips

37s

#FaithNotFear

“You see, it's interesting that as we continue to learn about Jesus and we live our lives with Jesus and he begins to continue to shape us and to form us and to grow us, we slowly or ought to slowly begin to recognize that faith is not like the absence of fear, but it is choosing to trust Jesus in the midst of our fears. That when we become afraid, we can turn to Jesus who walks the waters with us and who speaks peace. Don't be afraid. It is I. I am here.”

37s

#StepOfFaithWithJesus

“You see, Peter did not step out of the step out because the storm had stopped, but he stepped out because Jesus was on the water. Steps of faith in our lives often are frightful because we don't know how they will turn out. Steps of faith are frightful in our lives because we can always control the outcome, my friends. But we can walk with the one who walks the stormy seas, who does know.”

48s

#RespondToJesus

“You see, that's what separates our faith from, like, reckless risks. A step of faith is a response to the voice and to the teaching and to the leading and the calling of Jesus. Jesus' invitation was loving, but he still called for a step of faith that was ultimately a step of obedience. And Peter, in that moment, in Matthew chapter 14, had to decide whether he would remain in the safety of the boat or if Peter would be someone who was responsive to the spirit of God.”

41s

#ChooseToFollow

“But then Peter then had to decide what he would do with that invitation. And in one way or another, each, each one of us followers of Jesus face the same decision, that he still calls us to trust him. He still calls us to follow him. He still calls us to obey him. And even when the step is frightening and the and the outcome is uncertain, he invites us to follow him. So maybe the ultimate question for each of us today is, will you be obedient to the invitation of Jesus?”

40s

#PresenceOverCircumstances

“We see that before Jesus changes the circumstances, before Jesus does anything to the storm, before anything changes in the moment of what is going on, Jesus reveals his presence to his friends. You see, their courage was not found in the strength of the boat or in their ability to control the storm or to row faster or to dump water out as quick as they could. The courage that they had and that they found, it came from Jesus revealing himself with them in the moment.”

50s

#FaithInAction

“And eventually, for each one of us, following Jesus require movement and sacrifice and surrender. It just will, and we all are faced with those moments. In just a couple of minutes, we're gonna witness people taking a step of faith. They'll be taking a step of faith through baptism. Now, baptism is not a declaration that they have got everything figured out. It is not a declaration that they will follow Jesus perfectly, but baptism is an act of loving obedience, and it's a public declaration, and it is a public response to the invitation of Jesus to follow him.”

36s

#FormedByFaith

“this is a formative experience. They are coming to to, to a deeper understanding of the person and the work of Jesus. Peter's imperfect step of faith still became a place where Jesus formed him. Friends, the step out of the boat moments in our lives, the steps of faith moments in our lives, they are formative moments.”

36s

#ShapedIntoJesus

“Not that this is just an experience that's happening in my life that I have to respond to and figure out and find a solution. But what if as followers of Jesus, we said, Lord, what are you trying to teach me in and through this? What are you trying to shape and form in me, Lord? The step may not only be about where Jesus is leading us, it may also be about who he is forming us into. and more into the image of Jesus.”

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