By Gabriela Apple
Matthew 14:27-29
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Sometimes we think that following Jesus means everything will be easy, but that’s not always true. The disciples were in a boat because Jesus told them to go there. Even though they obeyed Him, a storm came. The wind was strong, the waves crashed, and they were scared.
Something amazing happened in the middle of the storm. Jesus came towards them, walking on the water. The disciples were terrified and didn’t understand what they were seeing. But immediately Jesus spoke to them with the words of today’s Bible passage. His words reminded them that He was there, even when things felt out of control. Peter then did something brave. He asked Jesus if he could come to Him on the water. When Jesus said yes, Peter stepped out of the boat. As long as Peter focused on Jesus, he was able to do something impossible.
But when Peter noticed the strong wind, he became afraid. When he focused on the storm instead of Jesus, he began to sink.
This shows how easy it is to lose trust when problems feel bigger than our faith. The best part is that Jesus didn’t leave Peter; He immediately reached out and saved him. This story reminds us that Jesus is stronger than any storm. When we keep our eyes on Him, we can face hard things. When our faith feels weak, Jesus is always there to help.
Pray with me…
Dear God, thank You for letting us live another day. Please help us do our best and be kind to one another, even if it is hard. Please watch over our families, friends, and anyone who needs Your comfort. Thank You for everything You have given us, big and little. Forgive us when we make mistakes and let us learn from them. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.