The Only Hope That Matters
I had the strangest dream. It was an odd mash-up of work and personal life all balled up into a series of events that just got weirder. And then I could see myself in my trusty Toyota driving across a narrow bridge with no guardrails.
Heading right toward me was a huge truck that was taking up almost all of my lane. I tried to balance, but the truck forced me off the road. Soon, I was falling — RAV4 and all — toward a rushing river far below.
I clearly remember my dream-bound cry:
Lord, save me!
Thankfully, I woke up before the car hit the water, but I’ve been mulling over that prayer ever since.
That simple, desperate plea is our topic for us as Christian women who are tired of the hustle, weary from perfectionism, and longing for a hope that doesn’t wear them out. I’m Dawn Tolbert — writer, striver-in-recovery, and fellow traveler learning to trade performance for peace.
A familiar call
Have you ever found yourself in a situation you just couldn’t handle? Maybe it wasn’t a dramatic life-and-death situation like the one in my dream, but haven’t most of us felt that heart-racing, crippling fear that leaves us certain that we cannot handle our circumstances on our own?
Matthew 14 tells us the Apostle Peter sure did.
It had been a really long, hard day. The morning started with news that John the Baptist — Jesus’ cousin — had been executed. Jesus wanted some time alone, but instead He and his disciples, including Peter, were surrounded by crowds who were looking for help.
And Jesus had compassion on them. He spent the entire day caring for their needs, healing the sick, and even miraculously feeding 5,000 men — plus women and children — with only five loaves of bread and two fish.
Verse 22 tells us that immediately after feeding the people Jesus told the disciples to get into a boat and go ahead without Him. As they set out across the sea, He stayed behind to dismiss the crowd.
Jesus then spent almost the entire night praying. In the meantime, the disciples were crossing the sea when a huge storm developed.
The truth we discover in the intense moments that followed can really help us learn how to walk our own Rest, Not Striving journey.
When we feel beyond hope
Verse 25 tells us, “And in the fourth watch of the night He [Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea.”
It was between 3 and 6 in the morning. The disciples had been struggling in the storm for hours. They were experienced sailors but hadn’t been able to make headway against the raging wind and waves.
Think of how they must have felt.
Battered. Exhausted. Fearful.
Way beyond hope.
Did you catch what happened? Jesus saw their struggle, and He came to them, right in the middle of it.
But the disciples were so focused on their own circumstances that they almost completely missed seeing Jesus. Oh, they saw something. But they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
I’ve been there.
I have let the chaos of my circumstances define my perceptions instead of seeing things through spiritual eyes. I’ve leaned on the world’s understanding rather than looking to God for help.
You know, one reason I think the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus is because they just weren’t looking for Him. It didn’t make sense to them to do so. They knew they were out in the middle of the lake. They were so focused on their battle against the storm and the struggle against their circumstances that they weren’t even trying to find hope anymore. They were leaning on their own understanding.
And they didn’t even recognize the Living Hope when He came walking right up to them on top of the water.
So, our first takeaway is to always be looking for Jesus — especially when things feel beyond hope.
When hope comes calling
Verse 27 tells us that Jesus called out to them: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Return to that boat with me.
The disciples are exhausted from their struggle. They’re still actively fighting and no doubt praying as they try to stay afloat. They’re soaked through to the skin. And then, over the roar of the waves, they hear a familiar voice call to them. It sounds like Jesus telling them to not be afraid.
Hope may have started to stir in their hearts.
And then there’s Peter. Rash, act-first-think-later Peter. He wants proof so he calls out “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” (verse 28).
Jesus’ answer is simple: “Come.”
Then Peter gets out of the boat, taking steps across the water as he makes his way to Jesus. I’ve always wanted to know how far he made it. Was it just a few steps? A few feet? Scripture doesn’t tell us, but we do know he trusted Jesus enough to put his faith into action and take those steps.
The second point for our Rest, Not Striving journey is that when God calls us we have to respond, to put our own faith in action, and move forward in the direction He has called us.
When trouble comes
Things changed quickly for Peter though. He had been doing great — until he noticed the wind and the waves. He became afraid and immediately began to sink.
Verse 30 tells us that this happened when he saw the wind. You know what that means? Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started looking around at the storm that was still raging.
So, that’s our third point. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to “Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” But that shouldn’t be a just quick glance. We need to stay focused on Jesus as we move through our lives.
Our job is to trust and fix our eyes on Him, confident that He will care for us.
When we need help
Peter teaches us our next lesson quite well — and brings us back to the theme of this episode. He realized he was sinking and cried out (just like I did in my dream): “Lord, save me!”
And Jesus did.
When we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances or when we realize we’ve taken our eyes off Jesus, we, too, can cry out to Him for help. And He will respond.
He reached out and took Peter by the hand, asking an important question: “Why did you doubt?”
That’s a good question for us as well. Why do we doubt? Why do we take our eyes off Christ and focus on the storm raging around us? Why do we become fearful?
Take a few moments today to pray through those questions, asking God to forgive you for your moments of doubt and to help you live confidently in Him.
When we trust in Living Hope
The remainder of the story in Matthew 14 shows us just why we can fully trust Jesus. After He’d grabbed Peter by the hand, they climbed back in the boat. And you know what happened?
The wind died down.
That’s what Jesus’ presence can do for us, too.
When we draw near to Him amid the storms of life, even if our circumstances don’t change, we can still find peace in His presence and His provision.
And we can respond the same way the disciples did in verse 33: “Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
He is calling us too
Friend, if you’re feeling weary today, thinking you might just slip beneath the waves, whisper Peter’s prayer:
“Lord, save me.”
He will reach out, take your hand, and remind you: “You’re not alone. I’ve got you. Fix your eyes on Me.”
Jesus is worthy of our love, devotion, and worship.
He’s strong enough to save us even in the midst of any storm we face in life. And in Him — and Him alone — we can find true hope that lasts not just here on earth but forever and ever. Amen.
If today’s post encouraged you, would you share it with a friend who might need a reminder that she’s not alone in the storm? You could be the one who helps bring her the peace she’s been praying for.
And if you’re walking through something heavy right now — or would like to talk more about what it means to trust Jesus as your Savior — I’d be honored to pray with you. You can send a message through the email address at the bottom of this page. I’d truly love to hear from you.
If you’re longing to learn how to rest in God’s love and let go of striving, I think you’ll enjoy my book-length Bible study I’d Rather Die Than Obey. It’s an honest look at Jonah’s story and how God lovingly works in our hearts when we’d rather run than trust Him. It’s real, a little messy, and full of reminders of His relentless grace. You can order a signed copy or the ebook from the store — and don’t forget to use the code READER10 to save 10% on your order.
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