²⁵ Shortly before dawn 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?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Dear God, this passage reminds me of the quote from Mark Twain: “It is better to remain silent and appear foolish than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” All of the disciples in the boat appeared foolish by not having enough faith to walk out on the water with Jesus, but Peter opened his mouth and removed all doubt, although he probably got a few steps further than the others would have. I always felt a little bad for Peter on this one. I would think Jesus would have said, “Way to go! You stepped out in faith. Now, next time keep your eyes on me and you won’t sink.” But that’s not what happened. Instead, Peter was reminded that his faith was still inadequate.

Well, my faith feels inadequate. Yesterday, I had a pretty serious case of the “glums”. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. I was feeling a little beaten down. I was feeling desperate for some love and affirmation. In short, it was just a lousy day. Frankly, it was a day when I was like the disciples. I saw the storm and I decided it was easier to stay in the boat that take the storm head-on.

So what will I do today? How will I live my life? Will I allow myself to be frozen into lethargy out of self-pity, or will I take a step out of the boat and see just how far my faith will take me? Who knows? Perhaps I will get at least one or two step further than I ever have before.

Father, I offer all of this to you. I offer my pain to you. I offer repentance of my sin to you. I offer my actions today to you. Please guide and help me. It’s Saturday. Help me to love my wife, love and parent my children, do the work you have me to do, and take care of myself spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally in the ways you would have me to. And when (not if) I fall, thank you for being there to catch me.