Matthew 14:30-31
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?”
Oh, it’s fascinating how a 4-year-old knows the concept of being rescued!
My son loves his fire trucks and little puppies on the roll to save his little humans, but he also has this daily “mom help meeee” in the most trivial things or when he’s uncomfortable, troubled, or in pain. It’s as if I’m this all-around superhero that can rescue him no matter what!
If we’d think the same of our Mighty Father in Heaven – we’d probably worry and stress less! Children have this innate faith and trust towards people who love them because that love comes with affection, provision, and protection.
What about how we are as children of God? Can we say we have faith and completely trust the Lord and His unfathomable love?
We can’t really say we love someone if we don’t know them; and if we don’t know them how can we even trust them? Like Peter, we are called by Jesus to come to Him, draw near to Him, seek Him first.
Because knowing the Lord through meditating on His word is what builds our faith in Him. After all, our faith is like a seed that takes time and nurturing to grow, even if it started as small as a mustard seed.
In this chapter, Peter already knew who Jesus was, that’s why when He said “come”, Peter stepped out of the boat in faith.
But there’s this natural human tendency to focus on what’s in front of us – whether it’s the wind, the world’s troubles, our thoughts, and our feelings – that we get distracted, disheartened, and discouraged to keep walking.
Peter saw the wind and was afraid, and like him, we too start sinking in that sea of restlessness when we zoom in on what’s around us instead of Who lives within us.
The good news is that even when we our doubts and fears weigh us down to sink, He will always come to the rescue. To Peter’s case, Jesus could’ve easily commanded water to push him up and back to the boat.
Instead, Jesus reached out his hand (immediately!) and caught Peter. What a wonderful thought isn’t it? That the Lord is very hands on, and personal!
My dear sister in Christ, His rescue comes even in the hardest, darkest, and quietest moments. We only need to call on Him and keep seeking Him through and through.
The more we fix our eyes on Jesus, our faith becomes more rooted in its author and perfector, who enables us to walk through the daily to-do list of chores, errands, and seemingly impossible situations.
And when the wind and storms of life become so overwhelming that we lose focus and start to sink, we can be assured that Jesus will immediately reach out his hand and rescue us.
The Great I Am, who rescued the Israelites from Egypt, is also our Great Rescuer whose cross, and resurrection saved and redeemed us all. Why would we even doubt?
Keep walking in His light.
