• 

I have always enjoyed the story of Jesus walking on the water, and Peter doing the same! I’ve even quoted Jesus myself, usually to be a smarty pants to my husband, to be completely honest haha! “You of little faith.” I love that Peter is SO bold and courageous that he tells Jesus in Matthew 14:28, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” And all that Jesus had to say was one word; “Come.” “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?’ ” Matthew 14:29-31

“Little faith?? I had so much faith I climbed down out of the boat and walked on the water with you! I didn’t see the others attempting that!” Okay, so Peter didn’t actually say that, but I could see myself thinking that if I was in Pete’s shoes. In all seriousness, we know the lesson here… Have great faith! Keep your eyes on Jesus! The minute Peter looked around him and saw the wind and waves and realized all else that was going on around them, he lost his focus and allowed doubt to creep in. He doubted, therefore, he started to sink.

I feel like I allow myself to do this more often than I’d like to admit. I am in this season lately of doubting and sinking. I’m doing what I just know in my heart I felt God calling me to do. I heard Jesus say, “Come,” yet when I look around me; social media, Pinterest, my own home where I’m just Mom, who cleans and does the never ending pile of laundry, when I see others doing what I’m called to do, and they’re already doing it so well and have a big following. I allow doubt to creep in once again; “I have so much to do already, why did I think I’d be able to make time for this?” “Why am I even needed if there are already so many people doing the same thing?” “Will anyone even take me seriously?” “Do I really want to do something that may bring attention to myself or my family, when I love to let my inner introvert take over and disappear into obscurity often?”

But… the minute I shift my focus off of the choppy water and crazy wind, and back onto the Maker of the wind and waves, my Jesus, I can hear Him over all the noise. “Come,” He says. “There are people that you will reach that the others wouldn’t. This isn’t even just about the people you can help and encourage, but also what you will learn and how you will grow in the process. Yes your children need you, but it is also good for them to see you working towards something yourself and showing what obedience looks like. Trust me, my child.” And my response is, “Yes, Lord. Please forgive me for doubting. Please heal my unbelief. Take my hand and pull me up, and I’ll try again.”

Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, and it will all fall into place. That doesn’t mean there won’t be storms around us, but we can know that He is with us, and will pull us through. My favorite part of that scripture is that it says, “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.” IMMEDIATELY! He is working on something we can’t understand or imagine. Let us keep stepping out in faith… one step at a time.