It’s a familiar story. It’s the middle of the night. The disciples have gone ahead in the boat and Jesus is walking across the water. It’s a stormy night for crossing a lake. 
 
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear…
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
 
I have to admit, I relate to Peter here. I find myself in situations beyond my control. Beyond my understanding or wisdom. Situations where I feel like the ground has disappeared from beneath my feet. There are moments when I realise it’s not solid ground, or even solid-boat, that I’m walking on, and my faith fails me. I stumble and the waves start to overwhelm me. 
 
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
 
As always, Jesus gets straight to the point; “why did you doubt?”
 
Why do I doubt?
 
This is the same Jesus who, earlier that day, fed five thousand people (and more) with two loaves of bread and five fishes. 
 
The disciples and Peter present two responses to Jesus walking on the water. The disciples, who had not understood the miracle of the loaves and fishes, are afraid, and their hearts hardened. Peter, seeing his master, asks Him to call him, and obediently responds. 
 
So much of the time I feel like the disciples. In the middle of a storm. Jesus is right there with me, but for my fear, I don’t recognise Him. It seems it’s possible to witness first-hand miraculous provision, but still be afraid, still not recognise Jesus when He walks right up to you. 
 
Peter, somehow, sees it differently. 
 
It’s understanding who Jesus is and what He is capable of enables Peter to recognise Him in the storm. Trusting who Jesus is and what He is capable of enables Peter to respond to His invitation to “come”. And keeping his eyes firmly fixed on who Jesus is and what He is capable of enables Peter to do the impossible. 
 
And what about me? What about you, even?
 
Understanding who Jesus is and what He is capable of will enable us to recognise Him in the storm with us. Trusting who Jesus is and what He is capable of will enable us to respond to His invitation to “come”. And keeping our eyes firmly fixed on who Jesus is and what He is capable of will enable us to do the impossible. To weather a storm without worry. 
 
Maybe even to walk on water.