How could you not feel it! The gale is so strong—it seems to be hurricane force. It’s taking every ounce of energy you have to keep walking. In fact, the sheer force of the wind pushes you backward as you try to step forward. It is exhausting.

What’s happening? Why are you feeling this way? Has the storm been a long one? Some storms are quick and violent. Others are slow and drawn out. Some are intense and strike hard. Others come quietly and seem to grow in intensity as time wears on. Today you are feeling the wind. You are experiencing the storm.

It is one thing to feel the wind, but to look at the wind is something different.

It’s a blinding blizzard, and you are trying to walk home. Off in the distance, you can faintly see one light shining. You recognize that light. It has been over your porch door for years, guiding you home through the darkness. As the wind violently slams against your body, you lean forward and, with every ounce of strength, you push ahead. You’re almost afraid to blink; you don’t want to lose sight of that light.

Peter was in the boat. The wind was pounding against the little vessel, and they were making very little progress. Every muscle was straining to stay on course and inch forward. They should have reached the other side hours ago. But now it was after 3 a.m., and they were still out there—being tossed about in the waves, as though the sea had become a boiling cauldron.

Just then, Jesus appeared, walking on the water. They were terrified. The storm was bad enough—but now a ghost?!

Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. It is I.”

Peter said, “Lord, if it is really You, command me to come to You on the water.”

Jesus said, “Come.”

So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid,

and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him,

saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying,
“Truly You are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:29–33

Peter had been feeling the wind all night, but as he walked toward Jesus he began looking at the wind.

He saw the whitecaps.
He saw the deep trenches between the waves.
He saw the boat being battered in the sea.
He saw his garments whipping in the wind.

He saw everything—except Jesus.

Peter was an amazing water-walker when he was looking at Christ. It wasn’t until he began seeing the wind and studying its effects that he began to sink.

Feeling the wind in the darkness of the night is one thing. Looking at it is another. It is when we begin looking away from the Light to study the wind that we quickly begin to sink. Peace in the storm comes from looking to Jesus.

What are you seeing today in your storm? What are you looking at?

When Stephen was being stoned he “looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55

Abraham, despite all the delays, kept “looking for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:10

The writer to the Hebrews wrote: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2

Paul wrote: “Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13

Feeling the wind is one thing, dear child of God—but the critical question is this:

Where are you looking? Everything depends on where you look.