Keeping Jesus In Our Eyes

Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus Walks on the Sea
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

One day, Jesus told His disciples to get into the boat. He told them to go ahead of Him to the other side of the sea as He stayed behind to tell the multitudes to go home.

After He had said goodbyes to the multitudes, He went alone up into the hills to pray. It was late, and Jesus was there alone.

By this time, the boat was already far away from the shore. But the boat was in trouble because of the waves. The wind was blowing strongly against it.

Between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus’ disciples were still in the boat. Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water in the midst of stormy waves.

When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were afraid. They said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out in fear.

But Jesus quickly spoke to them. He said, “Have courage! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”

Peter said, “Lord, if that is really You, then tell me to come to You on the water.”

Jesus said, “Come.”

And Peter left the boat, walking on the water towards Jesus. But when Peter saw the winds and the waves, he became afraid and began to sink. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”

Then Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter. Jesus said, “Your faith is little. Why did you doubt?”

After Peter and Jesus were in the boat, the wind became calm. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

Peter was one of Jesus's closest disciples. Like all of us, Peter struggled with fear and doubt too. Though his faith was little, he was willing to step out in faith however little it was.

All the disciples were terrified of seeing a ghost in the midst of the storm. But Jesus said, "Take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid."

Only Peter answered, "Lord, if it's really You, tell me to come to You on the water." Jesus simply replied, "Come."

Peter stepped out of the boat, and did something amazing. He was walking on the water. That was an impossible action.

Peter walked on the water as long as his eyes remained fixed and focused on Jesus. But the moment he shifted his attention to the raging winds and waves, his fears and doubts took over, and he began to sink.

Jesus reached out His hand, and rescued Peter. Jesus asked, "Why did you doubt?"

Interestingly, the storms and waves outside had not become rougher and stronger. But the storms and waves inside the mind of Peter grew bigger! The storms outside had entered in, and became the storms inside!

Peter's focus simply changed. His mind had shifted from trusting Christ to fearing the adverse circumstances around him.

How often have we done exactly the same thing as Peter? We begin each day believing God is with us, but then some storms and waves outside enter in and change everything!

One difficult phone call disturbs us badly. A negative comment or remark robs us of our confidence. Some bad news fills us with worry and despair. A financial problem, a health concern, or an unexpected disappointment suddenly appears and conquers our minds! The problems become our focus, and all that we can think about.

Before long, our attention has shifted away from the stillness of God’s presence in us to becoming completely unstable as we focus on the waves around us.

The external circumstances are real, but God is also real. What do we choose to believe? In what Jesus is saying in our hearts or in what the noises and voices are rambling outside. Which is louder?

James 1:6-8
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

When we ask God, we must believe. We cannot doubt God. Anyone who doubts God is like a wave in the sea. The wind blows the waves up and down.

He who doubts is thinking two different things at the same time. He cannot decide about anything he does. A person like that should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

Peter's focus determined whether he stood or sank. Similarly, our focus will determine how we would respond to every problem and challenge we face in life. We can stand on the promises of God, or sink in our own doubts and fears.

Imagine holding a magnifying glass under sunlight. When we keep moving the glass, the sunlight is scattered everywhere and accomplishes very little.

But when the light remains focused on one single point, that same light becomes powerful enough to create heat and start a fire.

Our minds work in a similar way. Whatever we focus on continually will grow bigger and greater in our lives. If we constantly focus on fear, fear grows stronger. If we continually focus on disappointment, discouragement becomes heavier. But when we consistently focus on the promises of God, our faith will begin to grow stronger slowly but surely.

Our external circumstances may or may not change, but the spiritual strength inside us certainly does. God's truth will stand, and give us purpose and direction in the midst of our problems and troubles in life.

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We do not need to be shaped by what is happening around us. Our way of thinking needs to be changed! We can be transformed within by renewing our minds. Then we will be able to do what God desires for us. And we will be able to know what is good and pleasing to God and what is perfect in the sight of God.

The storms outside may remain the same, get better or worst but the storms inside can be stilled and changed by the power of His presence and love!

Therefore, we need to continually keep Jesus in our eyes! We need to look unto Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is watching over us day and night. 24/7 daily.

If interested, please listen to this song Keep The Son In Your Eyes.

Written on 3 September 2026