9th August 2026 Pentecost 11 Matthew 14:31

……immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Two things came to mind as I read about Peter having little faith and doubting.  Firstly, is the idea from Matthew 17:20 about having the faith of a mustard seed.  The mustard seed (one of the smallest seeds known) being about to move a mountain (an impossible task).  That we do not need a lot of faith in God to achieve things.

Secondly from this reading Peter wanting to do what Jesus was doing that is walking on water.  Starts out on the water and loses his faith as the wind and waves scare him.  Peter asks Jesus to help him and Jesus does and helps Peter back into the boat.  How often do we start out on a new project and then find out how hard the project is – and maybe give up on the project.  It is with God’s help that we can continue to work through the project – which we cannot do on our own.  Just as Paul asked for God’s help we can ask for God’s help as well, whenever we are overwhelmed by a project.

What project is becoming overwhelming for you at this moment?  Perhaps instead of giving up, ask God for his help instead and just like Peter you may also find that God is there is help you through the project.

Shirley Bowers

Lay Preacher