In the middle of life’s most violent storms, we often find ourselves wondering if we are alone. This Sunday, we are honored to welcome guest speaker Will Fillingham as he dives into Matthew 14:22–33. Join us as we explore how Jesus remains near to us even when He feels distant.
Why Did You Doubt?
March 8, 2026 | Pastor Will Fillingham
Matthew 14:22–33
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
You don’t need to prove your faith by walking on water.
You need to trust the One who walks on it.
Jesus Sent Them Into the Storm (v.22–24)
- Anankazō - Compelled or Insisted
- The storm was not disobedience; it was sovereignly assigned.
Even when you are straining, He is interceding.
Hebrews 7:25, “He always lives to intercede for them.”
- He is not absent from the storm. He is elevated above it.
Jesus Watched Them in the Storm (v.23–25)
He allows buffeting, but He is never out of proximity.
- The issue is not the size of your storm. It is the supremacy of your Savior.
The Temptation to Prove Our Faith (v.28–31)
- Doubt (distazō) = divided focus.
- Not every storm requires a spectacle.
- You don’t have to manufacture miracles.
- Staying in the boat can be just as faith-filled as stepping out.
Peter getting out did nothing to the storm.
- Jesus getting in... ended the storm.
- You are not called to master the waves.
- You are called to trust the Master of the waves.
When Jesus Enters, Peace Follows (v.32–33)
Authority calmed what effort could not.
John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Sometimes the most profound faith is:
- Staying in the boat
- Enduring the storm
- Trusting the Savior
- Waiting for Him to enter
“The saint’s trial is God’s opportunity.”
-William Gurnall
