Day 1:
Jesus takes hold of me and draws me out of deep waters
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt” (Matthew 14:30-31)?
Camp that summer was at Questelles (Ke Tellz), a small seaside village on the leeward side of the island. The leeward side of the island is sheltered from the wind (as opposed to the windward side), and the beautiful waters of the Caribbean glisten in peaceful blues and greens as the waves lap gently on the rich black sand.
I loved the water, and looked forward to “beach time” every day, but I could only venture out a few feet—I could not swim. “Would you like to learn?” Susan, one of the camp counselors asked me one day. I shrugged uncertainly. “Come,” she offered gently, “I will teach you how to float.”
Willing to learn, but full of trepidation, I followed Susan farther out into the water, and tried to follow her instructions, stretching my body out full length on the water. Recognizing my anxiety, she reassured me, “Don’t be afraid—I am holding you up.”
I wasn’t so sure. I wanted to relax as she gently instructed me, but the thought of the massive water under and around me brought a surge of panic. I bolted out from under her grasp, and felt my leaden body plunging down, down, down…
I felt her strong grasp keeping me from going under, heard her even voice continue its reassuring tones, “Don’t be afraid—I am holding you up.” It took quite a few tries, but eventually I heard Susan say, “Do you know you’ve been floating for the last few minutes?”
And then of course I panicked again and started to sink. But she continued her gentle and patient coaching, and before long, I forgot the fear, and abandoned myself to the freedom of the gentle waves, and the warm sunshine, and the blue, blue sky above.
Whenever I remember my “floating summer” I can’t help but think of the apostle Peter’s experience “on the water.” Of course, he was not floating, but actually walking. The gospel writer Matthew gives us the fascinating details (Matthew 14:22-33):
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side… Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (vs. 22, 25-27).
Jesus’ reassuring words prompted a characteristic reply from the impulsive Peter, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water” (vs. 28). Jesus met his request with a simple invitation: “Come” (vs.29).
In the wrap up of Matthew's narrative, we see Peter responding by stepping onto the water walking toward Jesus. But not for long. The wind proved too much for his scanty faith, and only Jesus' intervention stopped him from plunging down, down, down into the dark deep of fear and doubt.
I think of the times in my life when I’ve felt God calling me to take a step into the massive ocean of the unknown, the unfamiliar, the uncomfortable. When in fear and trepidation, like the apostle Peter, I reply, “Lord, if it’s You...” even as I know no ghost, no phantom, no figment could ever be confused with the Lord of glory.
I think of the times when the Savior invites me to abandon myself to His guiding hand. To float on the freedom and warmth of His gentle care. But my scanty faith is undone by the winds of worry and the currents of fear. Yet when the waves of doubt engulf me, and I feel myself plunging down, down, down, I cry, "Lord, save me!" and I hear His voice of reassurance, “Don’t be afraid—I am holding you up.”
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