Then Peter got 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: 29-31
Our earthly fathers are a reflection of our Heavenly Father: of His compassion, love, and endurance in waiting for us to desire a connection with Him. No matter what we have done in life, He loves us. No matter how broken we think the pieces of our lives have become, He takes the broken pieces and accepts them, fixing them or turning them into something good. He forgives us when we do wrong. His presence is always near and his love strong.
Do you recall a time during your childhood when you walked with your father along the beach? He held your hands, grip strong, reassuring you that you were safe and preventing you from being knocked over by the rolling waves. How much more does our Heavenly Father reassure and protect us? He guides us through the calm and turbulent times in our lives, always thinking of our safety. Just like when Peter began to sink below the waves, Jesus reached for him. While Peter’s fear caused him to doubt, Jesus showed him that there was no reason to be afraid.
How often is your gaze focused on the waves? The situations we find ourselves in, the good and the bad, can seem overwhelming, taking up our entire field of vision. If you look close enough, however, you may see Jesus reflected in the waves, his hand outstretched. Against the wind, the waves, and whatever you may be facing in your life, our Heavenly Father will protect and guide us. His love and compassion, shown first to us by our earthly father, will keep us safely above the waves.
