Peter Walks on Water

This is the story I've been thinking about lately. Jesus walking on water, and Peter coming out to meet him. On the water. (Read it here.)

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Peter sees Jesus and goes out to meet him on the water. But when he looked around he became afraid of what he saw and started to sink. Oh Peter, how I can relate. I'm trying so hard to keep my eyes on the Lord, I know He's the only way I can get through this season in our lives, and yet I find myself faltering. I look around, and suddenly I feel like I'm up to my nose, drowning in a stormy sea that has no regard for small me, just trying to stay afloat. My circumstances aren't bad, in fact, they're really good. I absolutely cannot complain. We're blessed beyond measure. But I feel like I'm drowning in the busy every day details, there's just no time for everything that needs to be done and so I limp along, trying to keep up. I look around at the long list of scheduled events and chores to do and I start drowning in anxiety of "what next? what now?" And I cry out. "God I CAN. NOT. do this!" Which is the point. Of course I can't. He can. I can't walk without him, and every time I start to sink I'm reminded that I need to keep my eyes on him, not the messy details around me. "Please, Lord, fill in the gaps!" I keep asking. The gap of not enough time, not enough energy, not enough attention for each kid.

I have this idea that if I was more organized, more efficient, more cheerful, our family would be perfect. Duh! How many times do I have to hear from the Lord, or look around and start to sink, before I let go of those ideas? Quit trying to do it all. Without him its nothing.

My favorite part of this story is in verse 31. "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him." He didn't stand in front of him saying, "I told you so." He grabbed him. Right away. Oh Lord, thank you for your unending mercy and thank you for catching me, right away, when I cry out! You are awesome.

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Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”


Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

~ Matthew 14:29-33