Thoughts for the Day

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

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, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In 1912 my mother and her family sailed for Costa Rica as two of the family urgently needed a warmer climate for for their health. My grandfather was to take over a coffee plantation. He took his wife (in Edwardian dress), two boys in their late teens, and three daughters, the eldest about 11 years old and the youngest, my mother, a baby. It took weeks to get there, and when they arrived they were expected to go into the hinterland on an ox cart. They arrived at a shack, and the three men got to work with the 'Ticos' to improve the plantation. Their house was extended in the wet season. The girls were expected to wear sun hats and gloves and act like little Edwardian ladies. When they returned some 14 or 15 years later they had learnt Spanish, the girls had been taught by their mother, and my grandfather had made a deal with Marks and Spencer to be the sole provider for various foodstuffs, having 'made good'! The courage this would have taken to go into the unknown and to run a plantation was amazing. What kept them going was their faith that God had called them to this new life, indeed one son went on to work as a missionary, and the other translated the New Testament into a local dialect.

When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water he had enough faith to believe what he was seeing, but this impetuosity to join Jesus didn't last long and he began to sink. But his plea "Lord, save me!" is immediately answered by Jesus.

When we step out on our own we are never alone. Our Lord is ready to rescue us when we ask for help. The answer may not always be what we expect, but there will be an answer! So pray for faith today and step out into the future!

Lord Jesus Christ,
give us the faith to step out
into an unknown future,
knowing that You have our back,
and are ready to catch us
should we flounder.
Keep us strong and confident
this day, we pray.
Amen.