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'And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” '
Matthew 14:28-31 ESV
​'There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. '
1 John 4:18 ESV
​Fear is the enemy of faith; faith is the root of love. There are a lot of things in life that can intimidate us, but we have fear-slaying love in our faith in Christ.
​The Jews of first-century Judaea were not a majorly seafaring people. Typically, shepherds or farmers, they actually held a deep distrust of the sea, a place where sudden storms batter ships and ephemeral spirits torment unfortunate sailors. Though a fisherman, even Peter knew that it was unwise to challenge the raging waters.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

​Many times in my life, I have been upon the waves, standing there with Jesus, yet looking away from Him, my eyes locked onto the stormy sea of life. We all have. This scene with Jesus and Peter is depicted throughout the Bible: men and women standing with God, only to become afraid and look away. Like Peter, when we take our eyes off of Him and put the waves into our own understanding (which is what Peter did), we often find that they swallow us up.
But the most beautiful example of God’s love for his creation takes place upon Peter’s broken cry: “Lord, save me.”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him...

​When Jesus reached out, He did so immediately. He didn’t stop and let Peter sink; he didn’t give up on Peter because of Peter’s fear; no, He saved him right away. God does not forsake those who call upon His name, and He is an outstretched hand in the wake of a torrential world. He saved Peter, and he can save you, too. An interesting thing will happen at the end of John’s Gospel, which I will share with you now:
​'That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. '
John 21:7-8 ESV
Not so scared of the waves now, eh, Peter?
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It’s OK to not be perfect; it’s OK to feel afraid. In these times, call out His name, turn your eyes to Him, and He will save you.
To Him be the power, the glory, and the kingdom forever.
So be it and let it be.
Amen.