The purpose of biblical authority is to fulfill the commands Jesus gives us. But what happens when that authority is challenged?
Matthew 14:25–31 tells us that Jesus came walking on the water toward His disciples in the middle of the night. When Peter saw Him, he said, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come to You on the water.”
Jesus said, “Come.”
And for a few incredible steps, Peter did the impossible—he walked on the water. But when he saw the wind and the waves, he began to sink. Jesus caught him and said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
I’ve always thought about that, because Peter did have faith. He was the only one brave enough to step out of the boat. What if Jesus wasn’t talking about the amount of Peter’s faith, but the endurance of it? Not the quantity, but the duration. Peter had faith—but it was short faith, easily overtaken by the wind and waves.
Peter believed, until he took his eyes off the command of Jesus and fixed them on the storm. That’s the essence of spiritual authority. If Jesus says, “Come,” then you have the authority to overcome anything that tries to stop you from obeying that word.
So, what about when we step out in faith and the waves rise up? When we pray and things seem to get worse instead of better?
A few years ago, when our daughter was seven, she developed a large ranula in her mouth that began to affect her speech and eating. The doctor said she’d need surgery, but she didn’t want that, so she asked if we could pray instead. Every night we prayed together, and she spoke the Word of God over it, standing in authority and choosing to believe what Jesus says about healing rather than what she could see. It would shrink, then swell again. Back and forth, for months. But she refused to give up. And one day, it was just… gone. Completely healed. It was a six-month battle, but God was faithful and our whole family learned to hold our ground in prayer and faith even when we were experiencing setbacks.
Faith that starts strong must also endure. James 1:2–3 says, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
Jesus wasn’t rebuking Peter for trying and failing; He was inviting him into a steadier, more enduring faith. When your authority is challenged by storms, by doubt, or by delay, stand firm. Many people can have faith for a moment, but we want to be people known for faith that lasts.
Grace Waves 