Stepping Out of the Boat Today: What Peter’s Storm Walk Teaches Us About Modern Courage

Picture this: It’s a dark, windy night on the Sea of Galilee. A small fishing boat is being tossed by the waves. Inside that boat are Jesus’s disciples, clinging on for dear life. Suddenly, they see someone walking on the water toward them – it’s Jesus! And He calls out to the disciple Peter. The others watch with wide eyes as Peter does the unthinkable: he swings his legs over the side of the boat and steps onto the stormy sea. One foot, then the other – he’s standing on water! Can you imagine that moment? Peter actually takes a few steps towards Jesus, defying everything logic and fear screams at him. But then Peter glances away from Jesus. He sees the huge waves, feels the wind whipping around him, and panic sets in. In an instant, he starts sinking like a rock. “Lord, save me!” he cries. Immediately, Jesus grabs Peter’s hand and pulls him up, gently saying, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). They climb back into the boat together, the storm calms, and everyone is in awe at what just happened.

I love this biblical account (see Matthew 14:22–33 for the full story). It’s dramatic and powerful, but it’s not just a story for Sunday school – it has so much to teach us about courage in our lives today. Most of us will never step out of an actual boat onto literal waves, but we all face moments where Jesus is calling us out of our comfort zone. The boat represents safety, the known, the comfortable. The water represents the risk, the unknown, the thing that scares us. And Jesus? He’s out there on the water, extending His hand, saying “Come.”

Maybe for you, “stepping out of the boat” looks like starting that ministry God’s put on your heart, even though you feel unqualified. Or maybe it’s having a hard conversation you’ve been avoiding, or switching careers mid-life, or speaking up about your faith at work. It could be moving to a new city, or even something as simple (and scary) as joining a small group at church where you don’t know anyone. We each have areas where staying in our boat feels safe, but deep down we sense Jesus urging us to trust Him and take a step. I’ll be honest – it’s so much easier to read about Peter’s courage than to live out our own! I’ve had many “boat” moments where I’ve hesitated, heart pounding, one foot nervously hovering over the water of uncertainty.

One of my personal “Peter moments” was when God called me to share my story publicly for the first time. I was terrified. Speaking on a stage felt like stepping into a storm for me. I remember the first time I agreed to give a talk at a women’s event – I was physically trembling as the date approached. That little voice of fear was like the howling wind: “Who do you think you are? You’re going to sink out there in front of everyone.” I clung to the promise that if Jesus was calling me, He would also steady me. Just like Peter, I had to make the choice to swing my feet out and take that step. And you know what? Jesus held me up. I spoke, my voice shaking at first, but by the end I was filled with a joy and strength that was totally from Him. I didn’t do it perfectly (Peter didn’t either – he did, after all, sink a bit!), but I experienced God’s faithfulness in a way I never would have if I’d stayed “in the boat.”

So, what does Peter’s stormy walk teach us about having courage today? Let’s break down a few key lessons from his experience and see how they apply to our lives:

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus, Not on the Storm

Peter was doing the impossible as long as his focus was on Jesus. The moment he shifted his gaze to the towering waves, fear overwhelmed him and down he went. The lesson for us is clear: what we focus on will fuel either our faith or our fear. In our modern “storms” – whether it’s a health crisis, financial trouble, or any uncertain situation – it’s so easy to get fixated on the problem. We start thinking of everything that could go wrong, and just like Peter, we feel ourselves sinking in anxiety. I’ve been there. When my family and I first took a leap to travel full-time in ministry (living in a big 40ft bus, no less!), there were moments I made the mistake of looking at the “waves” – the bank account, the what-ifs, the lack of a clear plan. And let me tell you, it nearly sank me in worry.

But Peter’s story reminds us to refocus. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Practically, that means in the moment of fear, stop and pray: “Jesus, I trust You. You’re bigger than this wave I’m facing.” It might mean quoting a scripture about His faithfulness, or recalling a time He carried you through before. It definitely means choosing, sometimes minute by minute, to shift your thoughts from the size of the storm to the size of your Savior. Jesus is the one who called you out onto the water, and He hasn’t taken off – He’s right there in front of you. Hebrews 12:2 says it well: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” When you look at Him, you remember: He loves me, He’s powerful, He’s with me. The waves don’t disappear, but they lose their power to paralyze you. In Peter’s case, as long as he looked at Jesus, he literally rose above what should have sunk him. The same can happen with us internally – with eyes on Christ, our fears shrink and our faith swells.

Maybe you need to take a “eyes on Jesus” break each day. When you feel panic rising, pause and worship or pray. Visualize handing the storm over to Jesus. Some people even write the thing they fear on a piece of paper and physically set it at the base of a cross or rip it up as a symbolic act. Do whatever helps you shift your focus back to our Lord. Like a child on a bike who needs to lift her eyes to her parent instead of the wobbly path ahead, lift your eyes to your Heavenly Father. He’s saying, “I’m right here, focus on Me.” As we do that, courage replaces fear.

Courage Requires Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Here’s a thought: there were twelve disciples in that boat, but only Peter experienced walking on water. Why? Because only Peter stepped out. The others stayed huddled in the safety of the boat. I don’t blame them – it was the logical place to be during a storm! But they missed out on the miracle that Peter got to be part of. To see God do the miraculous, Peter had to take a risk. He had to leave what was known and safe. This teaches me that obedience often involves risk. We usually can’t play it safe and also live out audacious faith at the same time.

In my own life, every time I’ve seen God move in amazing ways, it was on the other side of a decision to step out in courage. For example, when I felt God nudging me to become an author and speaker (while I was comfortable in a totally different career), I had to choose to “leave the boat” of my established. It felt risky – I didn’t know if I’d succeed or fall flat on my face. Maybe others thought I was a bit crazy, who knows! But I’m so grateful I obeyed God’s call, because I’ve gotten to witness His power and grace in ways I never would have if I said “Nah, I’ll stay where I’m at.” It’s like that famous quote, “You can’t walk on water unless you step out of the boat.” So true.

Is God asking you to do something that scares you right now? It might not make sense to those around you. You might feel like you’re not ready or not qualified. But if Jesus is the one calling, go for it. Don’t let the comfort of the familiar keep you from the adventure of faith. Yes, it’s scary. The boat is cozy and the water looks wild. But think of what you’ll miss if you never try. Even if you start to sink, Jesus is there (we’ll get to that next!). I once heard someone say, “I’d rather be a wet-water walker than a dry-boat sitter.” In other words, I’d rather take a chance in faith and maybe stumble, than play it safe and never grow.

Courage isn’t about feeling fearless; it’s about moving forward despite feeling fear. Peter was likely terrified – the Bible doesn’t say he felt super bold. I suspect his heart was hammering in his chest as he took that first step. Courage is action, not emotion. So if you’re waiting to feel brave before you obey God, you might be in that boat forever. Sometimes you just have to do it with your knees knocking! Ask God for strength, then do it scared. Make the phone call, start the application, initiate that ministry, sign up for that class – whatever it is. One small step of obedience can lead to experiences with God beyond your imagination.

Even If You Sink, Jesus Won’t Let You Drown

Perhaps the most comforting part of this story is what happens when Peter starts to sink. The very instant Peter cried out “Lord, save me!”, Jesus immediately reached out and caught him. Jesus didn’t watch Peter flounder for a while to teach him a lesson; He grabbed him right away. Yes, He did gently correct Peter’s doubt, but He still kept Peter safe. They ended up back in the boat together, and I like to think Jesus had an arm around Peter as He asked, “Why did you doubt, my friend?” It was a moment of growth, not destruction.

Here’s what we learn: failure is not fatal when you’re with Jesus. There will be times when you take a leap of faith and then things get harder than expected or your own doubt trips you up. That doesn’t mean it’s all over for you. Peter’s story could have ended with “And Peter went glub-glub and that was the end.” But it doesn’t, because Jesus is merciful. In my journey of stepping out, I’ve had some flops and faceplants. I’ve had events I planned where hardly anyone showed up. I’ve had projects I felt “called” to that didn’t turn out successful in worldly terms. At times, I’ve panicked midway, “Lord, I’m sinking! I thought You called me to this – why is it so hard?!” And you know, every time, Jesus has been there to hold me up. Sometimes He rescues me from the situation; sometimes He simply gives me the strength to endure it and learn from it. Either way, I haven’t drowned, and I’m stronger in faith because of it.

Maybe you tried to follow God in something and it went sideways – you sank a bit. Don’t let that stop you from ever trying again. Jesus didn’t tell Peter, “Well, you blew it, buddy. No more walking on water for you.” Not at all. In fact, I suspect Peter’s faith ultimately grew from that experience, even with the sinking part. Because who was the only other person in history besides Jesus who knew what it felt like to walk on water? Peter! Even a few steps were likely life-changing for him. Likewise, even if your leap of faith didn’t go perfectly, it wasn’t wasted. You probably gained insight, humility, or a testimony you can share. And you certainly learned something about Jesus – maybe that He is quick to save, or that He’s gracious when we doubt.

The next time fear whispers “What if you stumble? What if you fail?”, answer back, “I might... but Jesus will catch me.” Honestly, that safety net of Christ’s presence is what gives us the courage to risk in the first place. Psalm 37:24 says, “Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” That was literally true for Peter. It’s true for you too. You are upheld by God’s hand. So even if you step out and the worst-case scenario happens, you’re not going under. Jesus has you.

Let that truth embolden you. Knowing that God’s got our back frees us to live boldly. It’s like a child learning to swim with a parent right there – they might go under for a second, but the parent scoops them up. The child gains confidence to keep trying because they know they’re not alone in the deep end. You can venture into deep waters of faith because your Father is right there, ready to scoop you up as needed.

Peter’s stormy adventure teaches us to focus on Jesus in our trials, to be willing to leave comfort for the sake of obedience, and to trust that God will help us if we start to fall. Courage in the Christian life isn’t about being a naturally brave person. It’s about having a brave trust in a faithful God. It’s saying, “Lord, if it’s You calling me, I’ll come, even if I’m afraid.”

Ask yourself: What is one “boat” in my life that I sense God may be calling me to step out of? It could be a spiritual risk, an act of service, a relationship mended, a dream pursued. Pray about that. Imagine Jesus out on the water, smiling, hand extended to you, saying “Come.” What will you do? You might be shaking in your boots (or in Peter’s case, sandals), but I encourage you to take that step. You don’t have to do it alone – keep your eyes on Him, and remember He’ll catch you if you wobble.

A call to reflection: Is fear of the wind and waves holding you back from something God’s asking you to do today? Spend a few moments in prayer, and picture yourself handing that fear over to Jesus. Hear Him saying to you the same words He spoke to the disciples, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Write down that verse and put it somewhere visible this week. Let it remind you that the source of your courage is the presence of Jesus with you. Then, take one action step out of your comfort zone, even if it’s a small one, as an act of faith.

I promise, friend, God will meet you on the waves. Who knows – you might just walk on water. 💙