Peter, James, and John were fishermen, owned fishing boats, and worked the Sea of Galilee. They were used to hard work, pulling heavy nets, dealing with freezing or steaming temperatures, and sudden storms sweeping down on them.  

The Sea of Galilee, where they earned their living, is famous for violent windstorms that sweep down from the surrounding mountains. They come on suddenly, and the wind drives the waves before it.

Even though the disciples were seasoned fishermen, they were times when they were scared. They were often on the sea in their small boats, fishing at night with the wind howling and waves breaking over the sides. To die like that was probably a fisherman's greatest fear.

Fishermen then were known for their colorful language, and still are... We know that Jesus taught from Peter's fishing boat, and that Peter knelt before Jesus and called himself, "a sinful man" (Luke 5:8). Jesus spent a lot of time with the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, and He taught them in increments, a little at a time. We will cover three events there that increased in difficulty. 

(Mark 4:35-37 NKJV) On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

(Mark 4:38-40 NKJV) But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

A great storm arose, but Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the back of the fishing boat on a pillow, allowing them to "deal with it." Jesus was nearby if they needed Him, but He had taught them, and now He gave them a small test. Those are the nights where the rubber meets the road, faith in action. It is time to name it and claim it. Nope, when the winds started howling, they freaked out. Faith left the building, or in this case, the boat. I can relate. That had to be a terrifying experience, and I would have been one of the first to wake Jesus up: "Lord, the boat is sinking..."

They woke Jesus up, and He calmed the storm for them. Two chapters later, after Jesus fed the 5,000, He immediately made the disciples get into the boat and head to the other side. Then the wind sprang up again, and this time, it was night and they were alone.

(Mark 6:45-50 NKJV)  Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

Matthew includes details about that night that Mark doesn't, because he was probably in the boat. Matthew records that while Jesus was out on the water, Peter talked with Him: 

(Matthew 14:28-32 NKJV)  And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Why did you doubt? Jesus told Peter to come to Him on the water. Peter was standing safely in the boat when he heard this word. So Peter stepped out of the boat and began walking, but when he saw the wind and waves growing stronger, louder, he became afraid. He began to believe he shouldn't be out here at all. This is crazy! He thought of turning back, then Peter began to sink... 

I have seen this so many times... You receive a word from the LORD, and it is so exciting and "Yes, LORD, Amen!" You decide to take Him at His word and starting tithing, and instead of being blessed, you feel cursed! A few months later you are lying on the floor in tears wondering what went wrong... Nothing did. This is the interim when your faith is tested and refined. The enemy will try and make you give up and turn back. 

We start negotiating with Him. “Lord, did You really mean it? Maybe I misheard. Maybe this was a mistake.”

After Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, he told the other disciples, "I am going fishing." Jesus had told them to preach the Gospel, but Peter was returning to what he did in the past (John 21:3). That is the tendency when our faith fails, but the LORD calls us into the future. 

You stay with the last word given until a new one comes. Even things that I felt strongly about which seemed to fail still worked out for our good, if for no more than our education. So don't become paralyzed by fear and anxiety because you feel that you may miss "God's Will." Just as with Peter, He will catch you if you begin to sink. Also, Peter wasn't the only one who lived through times like this:

The LORD told Noah to build an ark in (Genesis 6:13-21), and as far as I know, didn't speak to him again for the next 75 years. The interlude is recorded as:  (Genesis 6:22 NKJV)  Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

God told Elijah to live by the Brook Cherith and that ravens would bring him food, and he could drink water from the brook. Then the brook dried up... But Elijah didn't panic and move on. He stayed there until the LORD told him to go to Zarephath (1 Kings 17:2-8). 

The disciples waited in the upper room in Jerusalem for the "gift" that was promised for ten days before It arrived on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:4-8). 

In air traffic control, if a pilot loses radio communication with the flight tower, they are to "maintain the last assigned route and altitude" and not try to invent a new flight plan in midair. 

Stay with the last word given until a new one comes from the LORD. If you have a problem determining His will, how do you know the path you are on isn't it? That idea that keeps returning could very well be Him trying to guide you. It's often easier to follow the voice of God than you think. All that it takes is putting Him first in your life, submitting to His will, and He will bring the course corrections as they are needed one day at a time. He has not forgotten about you. 

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help my faith not fail when I am in the middle of the silent time. I want to live my life pleasing to You. Fulfill Your perfect will in my life and speak to me in a way that I understand. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!