But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
Matthew 30-31
Peter was afraid, even when Jesus just called out to the disciples who were in the boat, during the strong winds, not to be afraid (v 27). Just another day in the neighborhood, with Jesus walking on water. It is kind of like I want to say: "you're kidding right?" And yet, Peter at first, had the confidence he needed to at least get out of the boat. That's what overcoming fear is, it is like climbing out of a safe structure, or stepping outside of your comfort zone to try something new. As he began to walk on the water, Peter let the winds of circumstance overwhelm him and reduce him right back into a fearful state. Not that I would have even gotten out of that boat, but what is important here is that Peter gives us the example of calling out to Jesus.
I do think that in our moments of fear, it is our trust in God that lets us take those moments of fear and doubt and turn them into unforgettable experiences of completeness when we call upon the Lord to rescue us and stretch out his hand to save us. Fear can paralyze us, inspire us to irrationally judge a situation, and sap our energy. Let us find ways to creatively overcome fear, to lessen our quick judgments on others' actions, and pray that we can really spiritually see the needs of those around us and answer God's call for us with confidence and grace.
