Reaching Out and Taking His Hand

But when Peter 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 14:30-31

When I was four years old, my family went out to Washington State to go to my Uncle Kevin's wedding. I remember it so vividly because it was the first time I was ever on a plane. I was so excited, and had my little play camera and pretending to take pictures out the window even though we flew at night and there was nothing but darkness.

What I also remember so vividly was visiting the ocean while out in Washington was My Uncle Daryl and his family took a bunch us out to the ocean. Maybe the reason I remember it so vividly also is because whenever we get together for family gatherings, someone will bring up this story, it never fails. I think this was my Grandpa Clair's favorite story, so I will share it with you also.

While we were at the ocean, my cousins Tonya, Daryl Brian, and I were down by the ocean running away from the waves. Since it was the end of November, we couldn't go swimming but we tried to get as close to the water as we possibly could. The waves would go out and we would run down by the water until the next wave came in and run away from the water. It was a great game, until I decided that I didn't want to play any more.

I turned around to see where by mom was and the next thing I know, a giant wave went right over the top of me and swallowed me up into the ocean. I don't remember if I was under for a long time or if I was floating but all of a sudden I felt a hand on my coat and pulling me out of the water. Fortunately for me, my Uncle Daryl was close by that he ran and pulled me out of the water before I floated off to Hawaii (OK, so that is what I thought when I was four) or before I drowned.

When I turned my back to the water was when I got in trouble. Just like when we turn our backs to Jesus and don't have our eyes on him, we begin to sink. We can be the best swimmer in the world but if we don't have our eyes on Jesus and trust that He knows what is best for us, we go down into the merky, cold water and have a hard time coming back up to the surface.

My Uncle Daryl reached out and caught me before something really bad happened. Jesus will do the same for you, you just have to trust Him enough to take His hand and walk with him. Don't doubt him, just reach out your hand and take His.