March 30...Peter: part 5

Matthew 14:31 “Jesus at once stretched out his hand and caught him.” (NAB)

“Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand.” (MSG)

“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.” (NIV)

“Right away Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up…” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

The minute we respond to Jesus and cry, “Save me!”, he reaches out for us. Jesus is always there waiting. He sees us struggle and is ready to save us…but we must cry out for him. He won’t force himself on us. Peter stepped out in faith to walk on the water toward Jesus. He allowed his circumstances to panic him, the winds to frighten him. But Peter had enough sense and enough faith to cry out. Even as he began to doubt, his faith told him where to seek help. 

Jesus doesn’t hold grudges. Jesus doesn’t pout. Jesus doesn’t act in a human way when we turn to him for help……no, “I told you so” or “shame on you”. He will help us question our own fear and doubts and hesitations, just as he did Peter. He will help us grow from our trials if we allow him to save us. He will “catch us”…”help us up”….”grab our hand”! And he will do it “immediately”…”without hesitation”…”right away”. Jesus doesn’t move from our sight at any time, but we can stop focusing our faith on him. We can allow ourselves to be distracted by the wind and waves. We can start to see our problems as bigger than Jesus. But if a grain of faith the size of a mustard seed remains within us and we cry out…”Save me!”….the mountain will move out of the way, the winds will calm down, and the hand of Jesus will reach out and catch us and help us up. Jesus will speak to us and challenge us to look at what happened and we will grow stronger with our hand still in his. 

Thank you, O LORD, for your Son, Jesus Christ! Thank you for always hearing our cries for help. Thank you that your response is always immediate and that there is always a hand reaching out to save us! Amen.