Matthew 14:22-31 (NIV)
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance a from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Peter had been bold in his quest to walk on the water to affirm the personality of Jesus; expressing his faith; something none of the disciples had thought of. Jesus agreed to his quest, and he began to walk on the water. However, with the onset of the boisterous wind, Peter became afraid and began to sink. When Peter realized that He was sinking, He cried out to the Lord. Though he was rebuked by Jesus for his unbelief in the face of the storms, he was however saved. Peter could have drowned, but his call.
In our walk with God as youths, we are called to diligently seek to pursue the ideals of God; desiring to please Him with all that we are and all that we have. Unfortunately, in the course of time, things including our faith may seem to dwindle, and like Peter, we begin to sink. Our reaction to this unfortunate stage in our life matters a lot. It is either we pretend that all is well, and we sink or we cry out to Jesus for help, who is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).
What do you do when things are not going in the right direction; when the flesh seems to be prevailing? In such moments, do well to do away with pretension and cry out; and you shall be strengthened once again.
