Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. (Matthew 14:31) One of my greatest joys is going up north to visit my beloved cousins and their children. My cousins are older than me and have always felt like the big sisters I never had. When they had kids, driving up to play with them was something I really looked forward to. Since our families are so close, we always send pictures and videos to update each other on the new things in our lives. A while ago, my cousins sent me a video of their children at their first swimming lesson and it was adorable. The girls had wide smiles on their faces as they joyfully splashed in the water. They had floaties on their arms and their fathers swam close by as the girls gradually became used to the water. While excited, you could tell that the girls were somewhat frightened, anyone would be trying something new for the first time. They paddled confidently for a moment, then instinct took over as they reached for the protective grip of their fathers. It was so sweet. It also reminded me somewhat of the well-known story in Matthew 14 in which Jesus walks on the water. Jesus made His disciples go out onto the boat while He stayed behind and dismissed the crowds, then journeyed up the mountainside to pray alone. Meanwhile, the boat had traveled a considerable distance from shore and was attacked by the wind and the waves. Jesus walked out to them on the water and said the famous words: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (14:27). To which Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus beckoned Peter forward, and while Peter successfully walked on the water for half a second, he spotted the wind and began to sink. He cried out for the Lord to save him. Immediately, Jesus came to his side, reached out His hand, and took hold of Peter. He replied, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Like my cousins, Peter had a moment in which he thought he could handle the water alone. As soon as he recognized his fear and frailty through the presence of the wind, he began to sink. Similar to a loving parent teaching his child how to swim for the first time, Jesus was right there to catch Peter when he sank. He was ready to hold Peter and guide him through the waves of life. When we begin to sink, we start to reach for a hand that we trust. For me, this often looks like my parents, brother, or close friends. Like Peter, I want to instinctively reach for Jesus first. My loved ones, while amazing in every single way, are plagued by human frailty. We’re all prone to sinking. Jesus, on the other hand, was the first to walk on the water and holds the power to lift us from the dark depths of sin. He allows us to rise up and walk above our circumstances. I’m not sure what kind of waters you’re walking on in life. Perhaps you’re in a season of calm waters. Maybe you have a few waves to face that are easy enough to jump over and continue walking. Or perhaps you have some really big waves ahead that threaten to take you under. Whatever that looks like for you, I encourage you to reach for Jesus’ hand. When the wind and the waves of life threaten to take us down, Jesus is the greatest life preserver. Questions for Reflection
Photocred: Unsplash
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