Are You Gripping the Hand of Fear or the Hand of Jesus?

In one of my recent long-form videos, I jokingly refer to Peter kayaking down the Crystal River. While it might sound funny, the heart of this reference comes from a deeply significant story in the Bible—one that speaks directly to the struggles we all face between faith and fear. You can catch that moment in this short clip here, but today I want to dive into the story of Peter walking on water, found in Matthew 14:28-31 (NIV). In this passage, we see Peter stepping into a miracle, and then, just as quickly, we see him gripped by fear. I’ve broken down this moment into seven steps that reflect not only Peter’s experience but also my own.

Step 1: Peter Challenges Jesus for a Miracle

The seas were rough, and the disciples were in a boat, terrified as a figure approached them through the storm. They hear Jesus call out to them, but Peter—being Peter—challenges Jesus. He demands a miracle, asking Jesus to prove Himself.

This is where I find myself relating so much to Peter. How many times have I been in desperate straits, demanding that God prove Himself to me? I’ve been on my face, frustrated, angry, asking why things aren’t going according to my plans and my timeline. In those moments, I have challenged God, sometimes out of sheer desperation, asking Him to show up in the ways I think are necessary. Just like Peter, there’s a lot of emotion here—perhaps even some doubt. Peter wanted Jesus to prove that He was the real thing, and I’ve been there too, asking God to ante up and show Himself.

Step 2: Jesus Grants the Miracle

In response, Jesus grants Peter the miracle. I can just picture Peter stepping out of the boat, his feet touching the water, and actually standing on it. The miracle is happening, and Peter is walking on the water—walking toward Jesus.

This is such a powerful part of the story, and I can imagine Peter being intensely mindful in that moment. For those brief seconds, Peter was fully present. His focus wasn’t on the storm, the boat, or even the water—it was on Jesus. He was walking toward Jesus, the light of His face shining through the storm. It’s easy to forget that Peter was literally in the middle of a miracle. How many times do we miss our own miracles because we are too focused on the next storm?

Step 3: Peter Takes His Focus Off of Jesus and Focuses on the Storm

Then it happens. Peter’s focus shifts. He takes his eyes off Jesus and starts focusing on the storm instead. I’ve done the same thing so many times in my own life. The storm can take on many forms—struggles with finances, relationships, meaning, or hope. It can even be that gnawing doubt that I’m not really walking the path God set for me, or that I’m not truly His child, despite what I know deep down (Jeremiah 1:5 speaks to God knowing us before we were even born, with plans already set).

The problem is that when Peter stopped focusing on Jesus, his intention shifted. Instead of focusing on the light, he started focusing on the darkness. I know what that’s like—focusing on the shadows and letting the storm consume my attention. When that happens, it’s only a matter of time before we start sinking.

Step 4: Fear Takes Over, and Peter Begins to Sink

As soon as Peter’s focus shifted, fear took over. He began to sink into the water. This is where fear does its worst work—it grips us and pulls us down. I can relate so deeply to this moment. When fear creeps in, it feels like the enemy has taken hold of me, and instead of reaching out to Jesus, I start grasping at fear and worry, thinking somehow they will save me.

Fear can feel like a solution, can’t it? We tell ourselves that if we worry enough or think hard enough about the problem, we’ll find a way out. But really, that’s like having a death grip on the wrong hand—the hand of fear, which will always turn against us. Peter wasn’t gripping the hand of Jesus anymore; he was gripping fear, and it caused him to sink.

Step 5: Peter Cries Out, “Lord, Save Me!”

At this point, Peter is sinking, and in desperation, he cries out, “Lord, save me!” There’s something so profound in this moment because Peter didn’t offer a long, theologically sound prayer—he simply asked for help. It was raw, real, and perhaps the most powerful prayer any of us can offer: Help!

I’ve been in this place more than once, where I had nothing left to give, no strength of my own, and my only option was to cry out to God. This is the point of true humility, where we confess that we are at the end of our rope, and that’s where God meets us.

Step 6: Jesus Immediately Reaches Out and Saves Peter

And here’s the beauty of it—Jesus immediately reached out His hand and saved Peter. The word immediately really stands out to me. Jesus didn’t hesitate, He didn’t wait—He responded right away. When we cry out to Him from a place of surrender, God is always ready to respond.

Sometimes that rescue comes in the form of a physical manifestation, but more often than not, it’s a psychic or spiritual shift that allows us to see our reality in a new light. I often visualize God’s strong hand reaching down, gripping mine, and pulling me up, setting my feet back on the water. In that moment, the miracle is restored, and so is my faith.

Step 7: Jesus Asks Peter Why He Doubted

Finally, after saving Peter, Jesus asks him, “Why did you doubt?” That’s a question we all need to ask ourselves. After every trial or fear-filled moment, there’s always an opportunity to reflect. Why did I doubt? Why did I let fear take over?

For me, it often takes time to trace that fear back to its root—a conversation, a post I saw on social media, something that triggered my anxiety. When I take my focus off the sunshine and put it onto the shadows, I lose sight of God’s promises. The world tells me to focus on the storm, but God calls me to focus on Him.

Shine Your Light,
Joe

PS:

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