Introduction Life is full of situations that demand faith—but often, fear tries to hold us back. In Matthew 14:23–31, we witness an extraordinary moment: Peter walking on water toward Jesus. For a moment, faith lifts him above the storm. But when fear creeps in, he begins to sink. This powerful story reminds us that we must delete fear and develop faith if we are to journey with Jesus and live victoriously. Rev. Ord L. Morrow once remarked, “But if I had to choose one word, I would choose the word ‘fear.’” He explained, “Fear causes people to live far below their ability. If we are not careful, a thousand fears will attack us when we awake in the morning—fear of the unknown, fear of the future, fear of ill health, fear of what others will think, fear of being shoved aside, fear of growing old and fear of death, just to mention a few.” Fear is subtle, but its effects are far-reaching—it can rob us of purpose and divine potential.

1. Fear Paralyzes Progress and Kills Fruitfulness

Peter was in the boat—a place of security, comfort, and company. Yet Jesus called him out of the boat, into the realm of the miraculous. Many today are stuck inside “ships of fear” that hinder their spiritual progress. These “ships” may look appealing from the outside but often carry fear on the inside: Fellowship – Fear of rejection may keep someone tied to toxic spiritual circles. Friendship – Some remain in unhealthy bonds, afraid to stand alone. Courtship – Fear of loneliness leads to compromising values. Companionship – Fear of the unknown keeps many from stepping into destiny. Fear often disguises itself as caution or even wisdom, but the truth is—it cripples obedience. Peter’s step of faith was a break from the safety of the ship. Until we abandon our fear-based “ships,” we cannot experience God’s best for us. Dr. Michael A. Guido once told a fable: “The Arabs have a myth that says Pestilence met a caravan on the way to Baghdad. ‘Why must you travel to Baghdad?’ asked the Chief. ‘To take five thousand lives,’ Pestilence answered. On the way back, Pestilence again met the caravan. ‘You deceived me,’ said the Chief. ‘You took 50,000 lives.’ ‘No,’ insisted Pestilence. ‘I took 5,000 lives. Fear killed the rest.’” Though it’s a fable, the truth it carries is sobering—fear kills.

2. Faith Promotes Exploits and Glorifies God

While fear paralyzes, faith mobilizes. Peter walked on water because he responded to a single word from Jesus: “Come.” It was a bold, risky, faith-filled step that lifted him above the natural and into the supernatural. Throughout Scripture, extraordinary acts were made possible by ordinary people who stepped out in faith: • Abraham left all he knew to pursue a promise. • Moses stretched out his rod and parted the Red Sea. • David ran toward Goliath with a sling and a stone. • Esther risked her life to save her people. Faith doesn’t wait for perfect conditions; it walks in obedience in the middle of the storm. Peter faltered only when he shifted his focus from Jesus to the wind. Faith thrives when anchored in God’s Word and presence. A missionary named John G. Paton went to the cannibal islands of the New Hebrides in the 1800s. Everyone warned him he would be eaten alive. His response? “If I can live and die serving and honouring Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms.” He went. He preached. He faced death many times. But through his faith, entire tribes turned to Christ. Faith promotes exploits—and glorifies God.

3. Our Duty is to Delete Fear and Develop Faith

We are not called to be passive victims of fear, but active builders of faith. Here’s how: Fix Your Focus on Jesus Fear grows when we focus on the storm; faith grows when we focus on Christ (Hebrews 12:2). Like Peter, we sink when we shift our gaze. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Fill Your Heart with God’s Word Faith is built by the Word. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Don’t feed on man’s reports—they’ll fuel fear. Feed on God’s promises: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17). Pray and Release Your Anxieties Philippians 4:6–7 teaches us to pray instead of worrying. Prayer brings peace and starves fear. In 1 Kings 18:41–46, Elijah kept praying persistently until the sign of rain appeared. Keep praying—your cloud is forming. George Müller of Bristol ran orphanages that cared for over 10,000 children during his lifetime. He never once asked for financial support—he prayed. On one occasion, there was no food for breakfast. Müller prayed with the children, thanking God for the food. Moments later, a baker knocked, saying God had woken him up to bake bread. Then a milk cart broke down outside, and the milkman donated all his milk before it spoiled. Fear could have caused panic—but faith brought provision. Take Bold Steps of Obedience Don’t wait for calm seas. When God says “Come,” step out. Connect with a Faith-Building Community Surround yourself with people who speak life, not fear. Recall God’s Past Faithfulness “If He did it before, He will do it again.” One of the greatest antidotes to fear is the remembrance of what God has done before. When fear seeks to cloud your vision and weaken your resolve, a deliberate reflection on God’s past faithfulness serves as fuel for renewed faith. In times of crisis, we are often tempted to forget how far we’ve come and Who brought us through. But Scripture repeatedly calls us to remember. God instructed the Israelites to set up memorial stones after crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 4:1–7). Why? So that future generations would ask, “What do these stones mean?” and the answer would always be: “This is where God showed up. This is where He made a way where there was no way.” Remembrance anchors our hearts in the unchanging nature of God. In Psalm 77, Asaph cried out to God in distress. He felt abandoned. But then he writes in verses 10–12:

• “Then I thought, ‘To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out His right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will consider all Your works and meditate on all Your mighty deeds.’”

In the Time of Fear, Call to Mind God’s Track Record

• Remember the Red Seas He parted for you.
• Recall the fiery furnaces He walked through with you.
• Reflect on the prayers He answered when no one else could help.
• Think on the times He made a way out of no way.

Asaph overcame fear not by looking ahead with dread, but by looking back with confidence. So when fear knocks, answer with remembrance. Let the file of God’s past faithfulness become your faith’s evidence in today’s trial.       Yes, we must fear—but only the Lord. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). If you do not have a relationship with Christ, fear is warranted—but for the believer, fear must be deleted and faith must be developed. Conclusion Fear builds ships that seem safe—but lead nowhere. Faith requires you to step out—even when the waves are high. Jesus is still saying “Come.” Will you stay in the ship of fear, or will you take a step of faith into the miraculous? Delete fear. Develop faith. Step out. Your miracle is on the water