Just Ask for Help

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Friday, May 20, 2011

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
- Matthew 14:31–32

Sometimes we are embarrassed to admit to God that we need help. We feel as though we ought to work things out ourselves. But what we ought to be doing is crying out to Jesus. There is no shame in that.

When Peter came walking on the water toward Jesus and began to sink, it hardly came as a surprise to Him. Jesus had his number. But He also knew what Peter would become. He didn't merely see him for what he was; He saw him for what he would be. And that is how God sees us as well.

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Jesus knew that Peter would fail-not only in this situation, but later when Peter would deny Him. In fact, Jesus brought it to Peter's attention on one occasion (see Luke 22:31–32). So Peter's failure came as no shock to Jesus.

And just as Peter was sinking, the Bible tells us that "immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased" (Matthew 14:31–32).

The Bible doesn't say that Jesus carried Peter back. They got into the boat, which means that Peter stood up and walked with Jesus on the water once more, back to the boat. And where did Jesus take Peter and the disciples? Back to land.

We will have our miraculous moments in life, our mountaintop experiences. But mountaintops prepare us for the valleys of life, and calm waters prepare us for the storms.

Maybe you are sinking right now. Maybe you are gripped by fear, worry, and defeat. Follow the example of Peter: cry out to Jesus. He will not rebuke a person who is trying to come to Him by faith.