8.3333%. That’s the percentage of disciples who stepped out by faith onto the stormy sea. One out of the twelve disciples used his faith to walk out on the water toward Jesus.
The estimated percentage of troubled marriages that survive is much higher – nearly 70%.
The data includes marriages that see a counselor when they have trouble; about 70% of them make it through the storm.
So, we’re actually talking about going for help, not walking on water. But what Peter walking on water has in common with married couples getting counselling in their troubles is that they both look outside themselves for help in getting through the storm.
But it goes deeper than that. (Pardon the pun.)
Why did Peter walk on the water? The eleven others felt safer in the boat; why didn’t he? Was it just that he had a sense of adventure the others didn’t have? Or was there a longing, even in those peculiar circumstances, to be where Jesus was and do what Jesus was doing? Let’s assume the latter.
If your marriage is in a storm, do what Peter did. We see phases in his experience.
Faith Phase. It took faith to step out of a perfectly good boat and walk on water toward Jesus. It also takes faith to reach out to God for marital help and heed the advice He gives in His Word and by His Spirit.
Fail Phase. Before Peter arrived in Jesus’ arms he sank into the deep. Sometimes things get worse before they get better when you trust God’s process of redemption. Obedience of a Biblical principle can bring testing by fire before it yields the desired fruit of marital healing.
Fulfillment Phase. Ultimately, Peter got what he wanted: the embrace of his Savior; his felt need was fulfilled. A married couple desperate enough to seek help and wise enough to seek and heed God for it will enjoy the rich fulfillment of replacing their storm with His calm, strong presence.
Finally, to clarify, while marriage counseling is valuable, it’s really God and His direction that I’m advocating here. Secondly, there are some wise and skillful counselors who aren’t Jesus followers, but my advice is to find a counselor who can help you find the counsel of God for your marriage. He’s its creator and knows its blueprint better than any other.
The account of Peter and Jesus walking on the water is found in Matthew 14:22-33.
