Today's scripture reading is from Matthew 14:22-33

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

This incredible account beautifully illustrates the power of faith in action. Stepping out in faith demands immense courage. Just as Peter had to conquer his fear of the raging storm and the seemingly impossible act of walking on water, we too must often face our own daunting fears. Maintaining an unwavering focus on Jesus is paramount. Like Peter, as long as our eyes remain fixed on Him, our faith remains steadfast. However, when our focus shifts to the storm – the anxieties, doubts, and distractions that surround us – fear can quickly erode our trust and cause us to falter.

Fear often paralyzes us from stepping out in faith. We fear failure, rejection, the unknown, and the potential for loss. "What if I fail?" "What if others don't support me?" "What if things don't turn out as I expect?" "What if I have to give something up?" These anxieties can easily grip our hearts and prevent us from embracing God's call. We must have faith. However, faith is not blind optimism; it is a confident reliance on God's promises, even when they seem impossible to fulfill. It is believing in the unseen, trusting in God's character and His ability to work miracles in our lives. However, true faith, as defined in Hebrews 11:1, is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It's about trusting in God's promises, even when they seem impossible. By immersing ourselves in God's Word, cultivating a consistent prayer life, surrounding ourselves with supportive believers, and practicing obedience in small ways, we can cultivate a stronger faith that allows us to confidently step into the unknown, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.

Just as Peter stepped out of the boat at Jesus' command, we are called to step out in faith, even when it feels scary or uncertain. Remember that Jesus is always with us, ready to catch us when we fall and to guide us every step of the way.

Reflection:

What fears or anxieties often prevent you from stepping out in faith? How can you properly emply God’s word to defeat those fears?