lures
than to be too cowardly to ever undertake anything.

So he steps out upon a stormy sea. It does look a bit mad, doesn't it?
And yet it only looks mad because of our blindness and dullness and
stupid unbelief. What did Peter have under him when he was in the
ship? Upon what were his fellow disciples trusting to keep them from
the bottom of the sea? Just two or three planks, that is all. Upon
what was Peter trusting? He was trusting upon the sure word of God.
When he let himself down from the side of the boat at Christ's
invitation he did not drop into the sea. He dropped into God's arms.
He dropped into the arms of Him who holds every sea in the hollow of
His hand. He dropped into the arms of Him whose power kindled every
sun and flung every world into space. Before Peter can sink he must
break God's arm. And mad as seemed his act Peter was never so safe in
his life. Pile upon him, if you will, all the mountain systems of all
the worlds and he will never sink low enough to wet his sandals if he
keeps his feet planted upon the promise of Christ.

Jesus said, "Come." Peter did the same that you and I may do. He
responded in the affirmative. He said, "Yes, Lord," and made the
venture. And what happened? Let me read it to you. "He walked on the
water to go to Jesus." He did what was humanly impossible. He
accomplished what was absolutely beyond the reach of any human being
except for the power of Christ. He walked. It must have been a
thrilling experience. It was a joy to himself. It was a joy to his
Master. It was a benediction to his fellows. I can see the terror in
their faces give way to wonderment and gladness as they say, "Well,
well, well! He is doing it after all."

Yes, Peter walked. Let us not let any subsequent failure blind us to
this blessed fact. I know that he did not walk far. I know, too, that
that was his own fault. It was not the fault of his Lord. Peter might
have walked the whole distance but for one fatal mistake. He might
have won a complete triumph but for one tragic loss.

What happened to Peter? "He saw the wind boisterous." What does this
mean? It means that Peter ceased giving his attention and his
confidence to Christ. He fixed upon the difficulties. In other words,
he lost his faith. He came to believe in his hindrances more than in
his help. He believed in Christ a great deal, but he believed more in
waves and wind and lightning and thunder. He