“When the Wind is Against Us” – Matt 14:22-33 – August 10, 2008

One afternoon we anchored our pontoon boat in the designated swimming area at Grand Lake St. Mary’s. The water is shallow and our grandchildren could swim off the boat. That particular day it was windy and the anchor didn’t hold. The force was so great that it kept dragging on the sandy lake bottom. My son was in the water and it was all he could do to keep the boat from drifting. I didn’t want to turn the engine on since that would create a hazard for our grandchildren swimming near by. I finally had to tell my grandkids to get out of the water since it was too dangerous.

What I needed was a bigger anchor since the wind was too strong. I needed something that would hold the boat against the powerful wind. When Peter attempted to walk on the water he needed a bigger anchor too; an anchor of faith. He was doing fine until “he saw the wind.” It was then that Peter became afraid and he began to sink.

When the wind is against us it can be a fearful experience, especially on the sea. In ancient times the sea symbolized chaos. Chaos can happen in a variety of ways. Things like inflation, corporate layoffs, health problems or the demands of raising a family can all cause us to lose faith. We don’t like to be blown off course. We don’t like to face conditions where the seas are uncontrollable. We want our waters to be calm and peaceful. But, like Peter, there are times when our faith is weak, and we sink.

In the winter of 1995, a fishing boat began to sink in rough, cold waters off Vancouver Island, west of British Columbia, Canada. The two men on board quickly moved to a life raft that was tied to the sinking boat by a nylon rope. Unfortunately the rope was tied so tightly, they could not untie it. As the fishing boat listed more and more the men knew they couldn’t reboard. Neither man had a knife to cut the raft free from the sinking ship. They knew that the raft would eventually go down with the ship. They were in severe danger of drowning unless they could cut the rope.

The two men began chewing on the rope, having faith that there would be enough time until the ship finally sank. They took turns chewing on the rope. Their jaws were exhausted and one man lost a tooth in the process. They chewed steadily for more than an hour. They finally chewed through the rope a few minutes before the ship sank. They were later rescued by another fishing boat. Had the men panicked they would have drowned. Instead, they faithfully chewed on the rope and were rescued from the sinking ship.

One of the most common problems I deal with in ministry is panic. People become fearful when some wind is against them. They become anxious and make unwise choices. They are afraid and do not trust that God is with them. There are times when we too have to “chew” believing that we will endure.

The disciples were rowing against the wind. No doubt they were exhausted and discouraged. The storm was strong and they couldn’t reach the shore. Out of nowhere Jesus appeared to them, walking on the water. “They cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.’”

The story reminds us that Jesus comes to us in the midst of our storms. God is always aware of those times when we are afraid. God does not leave us alone. God does not abandon us. God is totally aware of the forces of life that are bearing down upon us.

One time when I was in the Navy, I experienced stormy conditions while in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. Our ship was along side a supply ship. The nautical term is “underway replenishment.” It was late at night and the seas were rough. Both ships were tossing about. At one point one of the span wire rigs, the apparatus that enables supplies to go back and forth from one ship to another, parted. The command came from the bridge, “Break away, break away.” At that point the span wire rigs are disconnected and the two ships separate. Cables were flying all over the place. When I heard the command I hit the deck. Fortunately none of my men were injured. During the breakaway I heard a loud noise. A brass fitting had wizzed by head and lodged itself in the nose of a Phantom Jet just two feet away. I was in shock. But I am convinced that the hand of God saved my life.

Some might think I was just lucky that night on the high seas. I choose to believe that God was with me. I know that it strengthened my faith. It was one event, along with others that led me to choose a career in ministry. It was one of those times when the wind was against me and I witnessed the hand of God upon me.

The disciples knew who Jesus was. But when he appeared to them, walking on the water they didn’t recognize him. “They thought him to be a ghost.” In other words, Jesus was just an abstract concept, not a real presence in the midst of their storm. He wasn’t real, not really capable of helping them in any way. Their faith in Jesus had been diminished to an animated creature, not the real deal. Peter was the only one who was close to believing and willing to check it out.

This story is different than the story in the gospel of Mark. There, Jesus “got in the boat with them and the wind ceased.” Here, Jesus doesn’t get in the boat right away. He reassured the disciples that he was with them and they did not need to be afraid. But, Peter was curious. He wanted to verify that indeed it was Jesus walking on the water by joining him on the sea. Jesus invited Peter to “come” and get out of the boat.

What Jesus did was challenge Peter to face his fears and have the faith that he would survive. But rather than focus on Jesus, Peter focused on the wind and that caused him to sink. When we let our fears dominate us we sink. I believe that folks are too focused on the wind and not their faith. We let windy conditions hold us back. Some are afraid to get out of the boat. Others don’t hear Jesus’ invitation to come. Still, others don’t recognize Jesus when he does appear.

When Peter became anxious and began to sink, he cried out to Jesus and said, “Lord, save me.” Jesus reached out with his hand and pulled him to safety. They both got in the boat and the wind ceased. When we find ourselves in difficult situations the hand of God reaches out to us.

Do you ask God to help you when you are sinking? I believe that our society tries to rely on our own resources rather than cry out to God for help. We are proud and like to be self-sufficient. Rarely do we ask God to help us. This story reminds us that God is always there, ready to extend a hand that will help us back in the boat. The winds may be against us, but our faith will overcome them.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio