“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” “
– Matthew 14:25-33 (NIV)
I love this story because it shows how Jesus approaches those who doubt. He did not belittle or scold the disciples for thinking He was a ghost. Instead, he reassured them by telling them who He was. When Peter further questioned to test whether Jesus was real by asking Him to walk out on the water, Jesus did as he requested. When Peter got out of the boat, he was afraid and began to sink in the waves. Jesus famously said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt”, but He also pulled Peter out of the water.
We can sometimes think of God and Jesus as entities that punish those who doubt, but we can see here that this is not the case. Jesus stayed with his doubting and fearful disciples. He takes our questions seriously and answers our doubts.
Jesus didn’t abandon His disciples in their moments of doubt, and he won’t abandon us either. He will never leave you or forsake you, no matter where you are in your journey of faith. May we always remember that we can go to God with our requests and doubts because He is here for us, no matter what.