Have you ever been in a small boat when a storm came up? If so, you probably remember how the sky lowered and darkened, the wind came up in a fierce whoosh and the waves pounded the sides of the boat. The boat reacted to this assault with rocking, pitching and bucking like a water bronco. Suddenly that boat seemed very, very small indeed.

Something like that must have happened to the apostles when Jesus went up a mountain to pray by himself. We know that Jesus was increasingly followed by crowds as his reputation for healing miracles grew, and his message of love and forgiveness was eagerly received by soul-sick listeners. He must have often felt the need to be alone and pray to his Father, as he did this time. Not forgetting his disciples, he told them before he set out up the mountain to get in a boat, go ahead and meet him on the opposite shore.

Jesus was still praying when the cool of evening settled over the land. We know from Matthew 14:22-33 what happened: the apostles in the boat were battered by strong waves, and the wind was against them – so they had to beat against it. They were making no headway. If you have ever sailed, you know what trying to beat against the wind is like; it is futile. 

Jesus, always mindful of the needs and feelings of his 12 chosen friends, perceived their fear and came walking toward them on the water. But they, terrified, did not recognize him; in their heightened state of fear with adrenaline pumping through their bodies they thought him a ghost. Jesus quickly calmed them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid,” and they recognized Him.

Stolid Peter, wanting to draw near his master for comfort, asked Jesus for a command to walk on water, and Jesus said, “Come.” Peter was doing all right on the water while he focused on the Lord; but when he became aware of how strong the wind was and how it whipped up the waves, he cried, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately did so by stretching out his hand to touch Peter.

How about us? There are so many things that can rock our earthly boats, even if we never physically set out on roiled water: a pandemic, terrorism, crime, money worries, mortgage uncertainty, job loss, illness, a serious accident, the death of a close loved one, the addiction of a friend or relative, an unwilling move to a strange place… the list sometimes grows very long. When we are rocked too hard by these earthly troubles, we need to stretch out our hand to Jesus and say, “Lord, save me!” And He will.

God bless you!

Peggy