Metaphorically, life can be compared to a sea, can't it? Whether the water is warm, cool, calm, or stormy depends on the seasons, the winds, the weather....Matthew 14:22-33 tells a story where Jesus and the disciples are on the water, and the sea is raging. This causes fear, maybe even confusion. It may have overwhelmed Peter to be out on the water that day, let alone try to walk on it. Jesus' call for Peter to join him on the stormy sea beckons him to step out onto the water. But that does't last long, he sinks because he doubts and loses faith. Jesus calls him out, saying "you of little faith!" This seems harsh; like Jesus was scolding Peter, and perhaps he was. But Jesus also encourages the disciples, saying "do not be afraid."
I wish it were that easy...We know that we aren't supposed to be afraid; our faith and trust in Jesus is supposed to prevail over doubt and fear. But can you blame Peter? Life is scary, tragic, chaotic...we doubt, we sink...It's not easy to let our faith and trust prevail, but pursuing Christ isn't supposed to easy. Jesus calls Peter out on the stormy sea, not the calm sea, knowing that it's stormy...Jesus calls us towards himself, towards faith, towards a sure trust and confidence in him, no matter what we are facing. Praise God for that, because that's when we need Jesus the most....
See you Sunday!
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