Matthew 14:24-31
24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified.  In their fear, they cried out, "it's a ghost!!" 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage, I am here!" 28 Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water." 29 "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he sat the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.  "Save me, Lord!" he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.  "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"

Wow!!  I read this with my devotion this morning.  Many times I have read these words but for some reason I stopped and read it slower than normal this morning.  How many times are we out in rough waters with waves crashing all around us...awake at 3am not knowing what to do??  How many times are we in Peter's position??  We call out to God, get out of the boat with strong faith, but then we give in to the storm around us and let it consume us again.  Then we feel like we are going to be consumed by the crashing waves instead of engulfed by God's protection around us.  It is so easy to look around at the news or just daily life and give up hope.  It would be so easy for the woman who just lost her fiance or the family who just lost their son or the mom whose baby is fighting for his life to give up on hope and life... to be swallowed by despair.  But God tells us in the verses above...come to me...don't be afraid... have faith...take courage!!  God NEVER, EVER tells us in the bible...wow, your problem is way to big for me... I can't handle it...You are gonna have to deal with this one on your own.  Nope, God always gives us a way out.  Most of the time when my worry and anxiety keep me up at night it's over things I have absolutely NO control over!!!  There have been so many times when I have been standing in the boat, looking over the side, scared to death to climb out.  At these moments I am usually looking around for ways that God is gonna work it out...thinking " well, maybe I could do this and this or that will happen."  Then, I raise my eyes toward Jesus and the response I usually get is something like this... umm, hello Leshia... you are not the captain of this ship, I am... just stop looking around for how you can fix it and just step out... I am right here like I always am!!  How reassuring that we don't have to handle the waves and the storm on our own.  BUT, we must have the faith to step out of the boat. Baby steps and faith the size of a mustard seed.