How to Find Faith in the Face of Fear and Failure

In Matthew 14:22-33, we encounter one of the most memorable stories in the Gospels: Jesus walking on water and Peter’s bold, yet faltering, step of faith. Pastor Anthony Lombardi uses this passage to explore how our relationship with Jesus is often shaped more deeply in the storm than on calm shores. This message is for anyone who feels caught between faith and fear, confidence and doubt. It’s a reminder that Jesus doesn't just call us out; He sustains us when we feel like sinking.

This passage opens with an unexpected truth: Jesus sends His disciples into a storm. After feeding the 5,000, Jesus makes the disciples get into the boat while He retreats to pray. Hours later, between 3 and 6 a.m., they're still battling rough waters, exhausted and likely questioning why Jesus would send them into such adversity.

Pastor Anthony emphasized that biblically, storms often symbolize chaos or testing. And just like the disciples, we, too, experience seasons where the winds of life push against us. In those moments, we often ask, “Why would God allow this?” But the story reveals that Jesus allowed the struggle to show His divine authority. When He walks on water and calms the storm, He isn't just offering peace; He’s revealing His identity as the Lord of all creation. When Jesus says, “It is I,” He uses the divine name “I AM,” echoing God’s self-revelation in Exodus.

The disciples had just witnessed a miracle: Jesus feeding thousands with a few loaves and fish. But in the storm, they saw Jesus in a new way, personally and powerfully. This contrast speaks to our lives, too. It’s one thing to believe in what Jesus can do for others; it's another to experience His power firsthand.

Peter’s bold request, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you,” is a model of faith rooted in relationship. Despite his fear, Peter steps out. And in doing so, he encounters Jesus not as an idea or teacher, but as Savior and Sustainer. Faith is more than belief; it’s an action grounded in trust.

Peter’s fear wasn’t sinful in itself. Fear is a natural emotion. What matters is whether it drives us away from God or toward Him. Pastor Anthony reminded us that sin begins when fear drowns out God’s voice. Peter began to sink not because Jesus failed, but because Peter doubted Jesus' ability to sustain him.

Like Peter, we often measure our faith by our strength. But faith isn’t about our ability, it’s about God’s sufficiency. The moment Peter looks at the waves and his own limitations, he begins to fall. And yet, in his failure, he does the most important thing: he calls out, “Lord, save me!”

This is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus immediately reaches out to Peter. He doesn’t shame him. He doesn’t let him sink. He saves. This moment illustrates God’s grace at its most tangible. Jesus doesn’t abandon us in our weakness; He meets us with compassion and power.

Pastor Anthony pointed out that Jesus never intended to let Peter sink. And He doesn’t intend for us to sink either. While He may allow us to struggle to grow our faith, He always sustains those who trust in Him. That’s the difference between following Jesus and relying on ourselves. Our sufficiency runs dry; His doesn’t.

This sermon closed with three reflective questions that are deeply personal for every believer:

1. What storm are you currently facing that you need Jesus to show up in?
2. Is there a bold step of faith that Jesus is calling you to take?
3. Where in your life do you need to let go of shame and receive Jesus’s grace?
   
   

Jesus doesn’t just call us to faith; He walks with us through our doubts, fears, and failures. He is Lord, yes, but He’s also our Sustainer. Like Peter, when we cry out, “Lord, save me,” He responds not with judgment but with grace. He lifts us up, restores us, and says, “Keep walking. I’m with you.”

Let this message be your reminder: You’re never alone in the storm. And when you step out in faith, even with trembling, Jesus is there to catch you.