Matthew 14:28-36: a reflection

28Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” 29He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. 30But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!” 34When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick; 36and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

When Peter, walking on the water toward Jesus, sees the strong wind and begins to sink in fear, he cries out, Lord, save me; and immediately Jesus reaches out his hand and catches him. Beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him. Peter had begun well, walking toward Jesus on the water; but seeing the wind, he grew afraid, his faith faltered, and he began to sink. Yet in his sinking, he cried out to Jesus; and Jesus did not delay, but immediately reached out and caught him. This shows that when our faith falters and we begin to sink, we can cry out to Christ, who immediately reaches out to catch us. When we begin to sink, we can cry to Christ, who catches us. Christ immediately reached out his hand to the sinking Peter. Cry out to Christ when your faith falters; he catches us. Christ's hand is ready to catch us when we begin to sink.

Notice both Peter's faltering and Christ's ready hand. Peter had stepped out in faith, walking toward Jesus on the water; but when he saw the strong wind, fear overcame him, his faith faltered, and he began to sink. This is honest about how our faith can falter, even after a strong beginning, when we look at the threatening circumstances rather than at Christ. But notice what Peter did in his sinking: he cried out, Lord, save me. He did not sink in silence, but turned to Christ in his failing. And notice Christ's response: immediately he stretched out his hand and caught him. There was no delay, no rebuke before the rescue; Christ caught him at once, and only then gently asked why he doubted. This is a comfort for us when our faith falters. When we begin to sink, overcome by fear or doubt, we can cry out to Christ, Lord, save me; and his hand is ready, reaching out immediately to catch us. He does not let us drown in our faltering; he catches us when we cry to him. When our faith falters and we sink, Christ's hand is ready to catch us. Cry to Christ in your sinking; he catches you at once. Christ does not let us drown, but reaches out immediately. Even faltering faith can cry out and be caught.

That is worth resting in, for when our faith falters and we begin to sink, we can cry out to Christ, who immediately reaches out his hand to catch us. We can begin well and then falter, overcome by fear when we look at the threatening circumstances, beginning to sink; but Peter, sinking, cried out, Lord, save me, and Jesus immediately reached out and caught him. Christ's hand is ready. When you begin to sink in fear or doubt, cry out to Christ; his hand reaches out at once to catch you. Rest in the truth that when your faith falters and you begin to sink, you can cry out to Christ, who immediately reaches out his hand to catch you, as Peter, walking on the water toward Jesus, saw the strong wind and grew afraid and began to sink, but cried out, Lord, save me, and immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and took hold of him; for our faith can falter even after a strong beginning, when we look at the threatening circumstances rather than at Christ, and we can begin to sink, overcome by fear or doubt, but we need not sink in silence, for we can turn to Christ in our failing and cry out to him, and his hand is ready, reaching out immediately without delay or rebuke to catch us, so that he does not let us drown in our faltering but catches us when we cry to him, and even our faltering faith can cry out and be caught.

Lord Jesus, when Peter, walking on the water toward you, sees the strong wind and begins to sink in fear, he cries out, Lord, save me; and immediately you reach out your hand and catch him. Beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him. Peter had begun well, walking toward you on the water; but seeing the wind, he grew afraid, his faith faltered, and he began to sink. Yet in his sinking, he cried out to you; and you did not delay, but immediately reached out and caught him. This shows that when my faith falters and I begin to sink, I can cry out to you, who immediately reach out to catch me. Show me both Peter's faltering and your ready hand. Peter had stepped out in faith; but when he saw the strong wind, fear overcame him, his faith faltered, and he began to sink. This is honest about how my faith can falter, even after a strong beginning, when I look at the threatening circumstances rather than at you. But notice what Peter did in his sinking: he cried out, Lord, save me. He did not sink in silence, but turned to you in his failing. And you immediately stretched out your hand and caught him. There was no delay, no rebuke before the rescue. This is a comfort for me when my faith falters. When I begin to sink, overcome by fear or doubt, I can cry out to you, Lord, save me; and your hand is ready, reaching out immediately to catch me. You do not let me drown in my faltering. Let me rest in that, for when my faith falters and I begin to sink, I can cry out to you, who immediately reach out to catch me. When I begin to sink in fear or doubt, help me cry out to you, Lord, trusting that your hand reaches out at once to catch me, and that you do not let me drown but catch me when I cry to you.