Have you ever had a dream where you were walking on water? You might have woken up wondering what it means. In Scripture, this act is most famously associated with our Lord Jesus Christ and later briefly with Peter. So, what is God trying to tell you through such a dream?
Let’s explore the biblical context and spiritual meaning behind it.
The story is found in Matthew 14:22–33, and it’s more than a supernatural displayit’s a powerful spiritual lesson.
“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’”
– Matthew 14:25–27 (NKJV)
Peter, full of faith, asked to join Him:
“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.”
– Matthew 14:28–29 (NKJV)
But Peter’s focus wavered:
“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?’”
– Matthew 14:30–31 (NKJV)
This passage is more than history it’s a spiritual principle. Walking on water is humanly impossible, but through Christ, Peter did it until fear and doubt crept in.
Theologically, this reflects how faith in Jesus enables believers to do the impossible, as long as their focus remains on Him. Doubt, however, interrupts divine possibilities.
“Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’”
– Mark 9:23 (NKJV)
So, if you dream of walking on water, God might be reminding you: Your faith has power, but only when it is grounded in Him. It’s not about personal strength or ability it’s about divine dependence.
Later in Matthew, Jesus explains how to deal with spiritual challenges and grow stronger in faith:
“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
– Matthew 17:21 (NKJV)
Before Jesus walked on water, He spent hours in prayer (Matthew 14:23). This shows us that walking in divine authority requires intimacy with God. In dreams, walking on water could symbolize a spiritual calling that needs deep devotion, prayer, and spiritual discipline.
If you are living in sin or far from God, such dreams may be a call to repentance. The impossible becomes possible only when Christ lives in you.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
– Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
But if you are saved and still feel spiritually dry or powerless, the dream could be a call to deeper fellowship. Set aside time for prayer, study the Word, fast, and seek the Holy Spirit’s power. Only then will your spiritual walk reflect the kind of supernatural faith God desires.
The first step is surrender:
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
– Romans 10:9 (NKJV)
Turn away from sin, ask for forgiveness, and begin a new life in Christ. Baptism and a consistent walk with God through His Word and Spirit will guide your steps.
So, what does dreaming of walking on water mean? It’s likely a divine reminder that:
All things are possible with God.
Faith must overcome fear and doubt.
A deeper relationship with God through prayer and fasting is necessary to access spiritual authority.
If you’re not saved, it’s an invitation to come to Christ.
Never forget what Jesus said:
“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
– Matthew 17:21 (NKJV)
Amen
QUESTION:
Shalom. I’ve been experiencing a strange issue at night. I sometimes feel frozen—as if I can’t move my hands, legs, or even speak. My mind remains alert, but I can’t do anything physically. I usually try to call on the name of Jesus, and although it takes some time, eventually I’m released. What could this mean? Please help me understand.
ANSWER:
What you’re experiencing is commonly described by many people, and it can have both a natural explanation (like sleep paralysis) and a spiritual dimension—especially in the context of your experience with prayer and the name of Jesus.
From a spiritual and biblical perspective, such experiences often represent spiritual warfare or battles that take place in dreams or in the spiritual realm. The key detail is that when you call on the name of Jesus, the oppressive state eventually breaks. This suggests that God may be revealing to you the power and authority that lies in Jesus’ name especially in moments of weakness or spiritual attack.
The Bible confirms that God communicates through dreams.
“For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.”
Job 33:14–15
So, a dream or experience where you are being attacked, frozen, or overwhelmed but find deliverance through Jesus can be a message from God meant to teach or prepare you for deeper spiritual truths.
In all the examples you’ve described whether it’s battling demonic forces, feeling voiceless, or paralyzed victory comes when the name of Jesus is invoked. This is consistent with Scripture.
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
Philippians 2:9–10 (NIV)
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.”
Mark 16:17 (NIV)
The fact that victory comes as you persist in calling on Jesus shows that God is reminding you of your spiritual weapon—the authority found in Christ’s name. But this power is most effective when it’s grounded in a personal relationship with Him.
Simply mentioning Jesus’ name without understanding or living in Him is not enough. Spiritual authority comes through deep connection to Jesus and His Word.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7 (NIV)
“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’ He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.’”
Luke 10:17–19 (NIV)
So your experience is a reminder that real spiritual power comes not just from saying the right words but from knowing Jesus deeply and walking in obedience to His Word.
Some dreams like the one you described, where you feel frozen or unable to move, are also similar to real physical phenomena like sleep paralysis. However, in some spiritual cases, this can serve as a revelation.
It may also be God showing you what it feels like at the moment of death or spiritual separation from the body.
“And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7 (ESV)
Many who’ve had near-death experiences report being conscious and aware while their body was lifeless. If your dream felt real, it could be God’s way of showing you that life continues after death, and the spiritual realm is very real. This raises a deeper question for every believer: Are we prepared for where our soul will go when we leave our body?
The main message from your experience is this:
God is teaching you that victory over spiritual darkness comes through the power of Jesus’ name and that name becomes most powerful in your life when you’re rooted in Him and His Word.
Use this dream as a wake-up call to grow deeper in your faith, study Scripture, and walk closely with Christ.
May you be strengthened and encouraged in your walk with the Lord.
Introduction
Praise the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In the times we live in—what the Bible refers to as the “last days” (2 Timothy 3:1)—there is a growing confusion among those who call themselves Christians. The label “Christian” has become so broadly used that even secular musicians, actors, and public figures now claim the identity, all while living lifestyles that directly contradict the teachings of Christ.
It’s not uncommon today to find people who openly live in sin—whether it be sexual immorality, dishonesty, or pride—freely participating in church life, even in holy sacraments such as the Lord’s Table, with little or no reverence. Many seek God only for personal gain: healing, relationships, prosperity—but not for truth, transformation, or salvation. This widespread lukewarm Christianity is exactly what Jesus warned about in Revelation 3:15-16:
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:15–16, NKJV)
But there is a remnant—a small group—who genuinely desire to follow Jesus with sincerity, to obey His Word, and to walk the narrow path that leads to life (Matthew 7:14). To such people, Jesus reveals Himself.
Let us reflect deeply on a well-known biblical story from Luke 2:41–50, often read as a childhood account of Jesus, but rich with prophetic meaning for today’s believer.
Jesus Lost in the Crowd – A Warning for Today
“But supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.”
(Luke 2:44–46, NKJV)
This story unfolds after Mary and Joseph took young Jesus to Jerusalem for the annual Feast of Passover. On their return journey, they made a crucial mistake: they assumed Jesus was in their group. They traveled a full day before realizing He was missing. Only after three days of anxious searching did they find Him—in the temple, sitting with the teachers.
Let us note several key theological lessons here:
The phrase “supposing Him to have been in the company” (v.44) reveals a false security. Many believers today assume that because they are surrounded by other “Christians,” they are also walking with Jesus. But the presence of religion, people, or traditions does not guarantee the presence of Christ.
Jesus warned that “many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord…’”, and yet He will declare, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21–23). Religious activity without personal relationship leads to spiritual blindness.
When His parents finally found Him, Jesus was not playing with friends, nor casually mingling with relatives. He was in the temple, actively engaging with the teachers—listening and asking questions. The temple was the house of God, and the teachers were guardians of the Law and Scripture.
Christ was already drawn to the Word of God because, as John 1:1 declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
The implication is profound: if you are not actively pursuing the teaching of God’s Word, you will lose sight of Christ.
Joseph and Mary had to retrace their steps—going all the way back to Jerusalem. This is a clear call to repentance. When we drift from Christ, we must return to where we left Him, not continue hoping He will follow us.
Just as Jesus told the church in Ephesus:
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…”
(Revelation 2:5, NKJV)
Christ Is Not in the Crowd—He Is in the Word
Many today try to find Jesus in music, in emotional experiences, in religious events, or even in charismatic personalities. But unless these lead to deeper knowledge and obedience of God’s Word, they are distractions, not directions.
Jesus is always found where His truth is upheld. He is in the Scriptures. As He told the Jews:
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
(John 5:39, NKJV)
If you find yourself disinterested in reading the Bible, neglecting sound teaching, or finding doctrine “boring,” that’s a spiritual warning sign. It likely means you’re drifting further from Christ—even if you’re still surrounded by “church people.”
Conclusion: Where Are You Looking for Jesus?
It is not enough to walk with the crowd. It is not enough to be “in church.” The crucial question is: Is Christ truly with you? Or have you, like Mary and Joseph, traveled a long way without realizing you’ve left Him behind?
Jesus remains where He has always been—in His Father’s house, in the midst of those who love and teach His Word, among those who worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
(James 4:8, NKJV)
May we be among the few who stop, turn back, and seek Him—not just in feeling, not in the crowd—but in truth.
Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.
Matthew 7:6 (NKJV) “Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”
These words were spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, teaching His followers the importance of discernment. The “holy” and “pearls” symbolize valuable truths and spiritual insights, which are precious and should not be shared indiscriminately, especially with those who will not appreciate or respect them. Jesus is urging His disciples to exercise wisdom when sharing spiritual matters with others. The message is not to be careless in giving something sacred to those who might mock, ridicule, or distort it.
This concept ties into the broader theme of discretion and wisdom that we find throughout Scripture (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5), where it’s highlighted that we are to act with wisdom, especially when dealing with matters of faith and divine revelation.
Let’s delve deeper with a relevant example from the Old Testament, where we see God exercising wisdom in how He reveals His plans.
When God first called Moses through the burning bush, He revealed His divine plan to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt. But God did not reveal everything upfront. Here’s how the story unfolds:
Exodus 3:6-10 (NKJV)
6 “Moreover He said, ‘I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
7 And the Lord said: ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.’”
God’s promise was clear: He would deliver Israel from their oppression and bring them to a land of abundance—the Promised Land. Moses was tasked with conveying this message to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and also to the Israelites. However, when we look closer, we see that God directed Moses to speak carefully when dealing with Pharaoh.
Exodus 3:16-19 (NKJV)
16 “Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, appeared to me, saying: I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt;
17 and I have said: I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.’
18 “Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’
19 “But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand.”
This is where God’s strategy comes into play. Notice that God tells Moses to say to Pharaoh that the Israelites need to go three days’ journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to God. God did not tell Moses to reveal the entire plan of deliverance right away. If Pharaoh knew they were planning to leave Egypt permanently, he would likely have opposed them even more vigorously, and God wanted to ensure that His plan unfolded according to His timing.
Instead, God’s strategy was to speak in a way that would not immediately provoke Pharaoh’s rejection. In effect, God led Moses to tell Pharaoh something that would appear innocent on the surface—just a request for a brief religious pilgrimage—but in reality, it was a cover for the Israelites’ full liberation. This was not a lie, but rather a wise concealment of the full details for a greater purpose.
This example from Moses’ life teaches us a profound lesson in spiritual warfare. As believers, we must be discerning and strategic about how we present our faith, especially to the world. Not everything that God reveals to us needs to be shared immediately, especially if doing so would expose us to unnecessary opposition or harm.
For instance, if you’ve recently come to faith in Christ, you may be tempted to immediately broadcast your newfound beliefs to everyone around you. While sharing your faith is important, there are times when it’s wiser to first fully detach from your old sinful life before publicly declaring your faith.
Let’s take an example from the realm of personal transformation:
If you were involved in a business, like running a bar, and you’ve now become a Christian, it’s not always the best approach to immediately tell everyone about your decision to stop selling alcohol. Instead, focus on ending the business first, making the change in your life, and then later, when you’re secure in your walk with Christ, you can share your testimony with others.
This aligns with Jesus’ teaching in
Matthew 10:16 (NKJV), where He tells His disciples:
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
In other words, God wants us to be wise in navigating the challenges of this world. Sometimes, it’s not the time to declare everything upfront, especially when it might cause unnecessary battles.
When God called the Israelites out of Egypt, He was calling them out of bondage. Egypt, in biblical symbolism, represents sin and the world’s systems that hold people captive. The process of salvation involves not just believing in Christ but also leaving behind the life of sin—our “Egypt” (Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:24).
For example, if you’ve been living in sin—whether through promiscuity, corruption, or any form of immoral behavior—coming to Christ means you must leave those practices behind. This is not just a change of belief but a change of lifestyle. As 2
Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) says:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
When you leave behind the “world,” as the Israelites did with Egypt, your testimony of salvation becomes more powerful. At that point, you can confidently declare, “I am saved, and I am no longer part of this world’s system.”
However, like the Israelites, you don’t have to announce your departure from Egypt to everyone at once. Focus on making the change in your heart and actions first. Then, when you are firmly rooted in Christ, you can testify to others of the freedom you’ve found in Him.
Jesus said,
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NKJV).
The soul is the most valuable possession we have, and it is worth more than any earthly gain or success. So, whatever it costs, we must prioritize the salvation of our soul over anything else.
If you haven’t yet made the decision to follow Christ, today is the day. Repent—which means to turn away from your old life of sin—and accept Jesus as your Savior. Repentance involves not just a change in belief but also a change in behavior. Leave behind your sinful lifestyle, just as the Israelites left Egypt, and follow Christ into the new life He has prepared for you.
May God bless you as you journey into freedom and salvation.