Keep walking. It will work.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the New Testament story of Jesus and Peter walking on the water. 

If you're not familiar with the story, I'll give you the quick version. After a big day of feeding 5,000 people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish -- which took some serious miracle power, Jesus went up a mountain to pray (I so wish I could have heard that prayer). His disciples gave him some space and took a boat to cross the sea. 

Night came and the wind was blowing, and the waves were high. As they made their way through the water in the dark, they noticed something walking toward them on the water, and it almost passed them. Thinking it was a ghost, they were pretty darn terrified. But Jesus called to them told them it was Him, and not to be afraid. (I've got to think he may have gotten some entertainment out of seeing how spooked they were...)

I wish I could know what went on in Peter's head at this point, because he went from, "Oh good, it's my friend and not a ghost" to, "If it's really you, tell me to come out there!" I love Peter's faith and the mutually-trusting relationship he had with Jesus in this story. 

Jesus called to him, inviting him to come. Peter not only got out of the boat and stood on the water, but he started walking toward Jesus! The scriptures don't specify how many steps Peter took (I imagine it was only a few because the boat was close enough to hear Jesus speak to them even in the wind and waves), but the fact that he actually took any steps on the water is so impressive to me. 

Peter's attention shifted from the Savior to the boisterous wind and was reminded of his known limits -- which included gravity and buoyancy (and probably lack of balance... did you ever try to "surf" on a waterbed as a kid??). The limits were too real for him. Fear took over, and he began to sink. 

But I noticed that he still showed faith, because he cried to the Savior and said, "Lord, save me." He knew He would.

Jesus immediately reached for him and said, "O thou of little  faith⁠, wherefore didst thou doubt⁠?"

I'm going to pause here and say that I don't think Jesus is criticizing Peter here. I think he's making the point that, even with the little bit of faith Peter had, he was walking on the water. To me, he's saying, "Peter, you were doing it! Why did you stop?"

Then a beautiful thing happens between the verses. 

Jesus and Peter make their way together back to the boat. 

However many steps Peter took on his own, he needed to take that same number of steps back. Jesus did it with him. What a powerful, loving tutorial.

I wish I could have sat in on their debrief conversation after that. I wonder if Peter ever got another chance to try it. I'd want to if I were him! "Hey, just one more try. Pleeeease?"

I also wish I could have heard what Jesus was thinking as Peter was trying for the first time. I'm sure he wanted him to succeed so strongly. I imagine him mentally cheering Peter on, assuring him he can do it, reminding him to choose faith. He may have whispered, "Keep walking. It will work."

When we take our own wavy/wobbly journeys into new and windy territory, let's leave those perceived limits to the side and listen for His calm, loving, comforting, sure voice saying, "Come on, you can do it. Keep walking. It will work."