Storm in a Teacup
Well now, it’s Spring again and the weather is becoming more tolerable every day, and what with the colds and ‘flu receding we can emerge from our Winter hide-outs and shake off the cobwebs of hibernation for another year.
The seasons and the weather have an effect upon us all. You have heard of people being “under the weather”, the weather thus mentioned being invariably bad.
Some of our familiar sayings have their origin in the weather. For example, we speak of it “raining cats and dogs”, also we speak of “a storm in a teacup”. Now would you do me a favour, reach for your Bible and open at Matthew chapter 14 and look at verses 28 to 33.
It was no “storm in a teacup” that concerned the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ as they fought to keep the vessel moving forward. They were losing the battle and fine well they knew it. The wind was contrary. It was blowing against them and the harder they toiled the worse the situation became. That is, until they saw someone on the water walking upon the waves. “It’s a spirit”, they said one to another with voices vibrating with tense emotion. Then the figure upon the sea spoke, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid”. Peter shouted above the noise of the confused sea, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water”. JesUs said, “Come”.
Now Peter, whatever we think of him, is to be commended for his ambition. He wanted to do what he saw Jesus do. He wanted power to master the things that were threatening to destroy him. In inviting him to come, Jesus was to show him that the power he needed was not in himself.
The word “but” in verse 30 introduces us to a new set of circumstances. Peter was doing fine as long as he kept his eyes upon Jesus. “But when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Now this was a real crisis situation. He had no time for a long prayer. Just time for a cry, “Lord save me”. He needed the saving power of the Lord and he knewit. Jesus acted immediately, reached down His hand and rescued His sinking disciple. Now Jesus rebuked him for his lack of faith “0 thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” What Jesus is saying here is, Peter why did you have second thoughts? When Peter left the boat he did so by faith.
The Word of Jesus was all he needed and he walked on the water. But now he has had second thoughts and he has turned his eyes towards the storm. He had walked by faith. Now he is walking by sight and so the Lord is inquiring of him “Wherefore didst thou doubt?
Perhaps some of us would be on the Mission Field today but for the fact that having looked on the fields, and having heard the call, and having made some progress towards the field of God’s choice we had second thoughts. At first we walked by faith but now we are seeing nothing but the difficulties and problems.
Having experienced this great adventure, look where Jesus brought Peter. Back to the boat. Peter was a fisherman and as such he was familiar with nets and boats. There are times when we experience the thrill of a great Spiritual 
experience but the Lord leads us back to the commonplace. Back to the office desk, the workshop, the school, the duties of the home. Now Jesus went back to the boat with him and remained with him until they reached the other side.
Now, they say, “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good”. That contrary wind taught Peter that if he was to overcome in the storms of life he must keep looking unto Jesus and walking by Faith and not by sight.
Not only was the experience helpful to Peter it was a great blessing to his friends in the ship who voiced their feelings in these words “Of a truth thou art the Son of God”.
