Growing up, one of my favorite things to do, particularly in the summertime, was go to the swimming pool. We didn’t have a pool in our backyard, but my mom would take my sister and I to a community pool not too far from the house. The entire pool was shaped like the state of Florida, and they even had different towns and cities marked on the bottom like a map. We primarily hung out in the shallow end of the panhandle, but if you dared, you could swim all the way to the deep end and visit Miami. 

The deep end was not my cup of tea for several reasons. First and most obvious was that I couldn’t stand if needed and at that point, I was not super confident in my swimming ability. Second, it’s where the rowdy big kids hung out and I was easily intimidated. And third, it was home to the high-dive diving board.

I’d jumped off the low diving board plenty of times when the pool wasn’t super crowded. But I avoided the high-dive at all costs. However, one day when I was about seven or eight, my mom decided it was time to encourage me to step outside my comfort zone and give it a try. So after a lot of back and forth, I found myself in line to jump off the high-dive. And full-disclosure: the only reason I was in that line was because my mom promised me she would get me the Lion King stuffed animal I had my eye on if I took the leap. 

I don’t remember much. But I do remember how nervous I was. I remember how long it took to swim back up to the surface after I landed in the water. And I remember my mom cheering me on the whole time. I tried something new, got my Nala stuffed animal, and never jumped off that high-dive again.

There’s a story in the gospel of Matthew where Peter took a much riskier leap into the water (or should I say, onto the water), although he didn’t realize it until after the fact. There’s a good chance you might be at least somewhat familiar with the story of Peter walking on water. And today, I’d like to take another look at it. As I read, I invite you to put yourself in Peter’s shoes, imagining all that Peter might have experienced. In Matthew 14:22-33 we read, 

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,[a] for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind,[b] he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

I wonder what stood out to you. But more specifically, I wonder how you, in Peter’s shoes, encounter Jesus in the story.

As Jesus reached out his hand while you were sinking, what expression was on his face? What was the tone of his voice when he asked you why you doubted? 

When a professor asked our class these questions last semester, many of us answered that Jesus had a look of disappointment on his face and his tone was one of annoyance or let down. And I wonder if your answers might be similar.

It’s often easy to place ourselves in a narrative that says God is mostly disappointed in us. Yes, God loves us, but maybe a bit reluctantly or out of obligation. There’s not much warmth or tenderness, but sighs of frustration and maybe a few eye rolls. 

But what if we reframed it a bit? What if we considered the possibility of a different tone and expression? What difference might that make? In my own life, I’m learning that it makes all the difference.

One thing I’ve discovered is the phrase used by Jesus, “You of little faith” might be four words in the English translation, but the original is one word, a word that directly translates as “little-faith.” Jesus uses this same word several times throughout the gospels while interacting with his disciples, and some scholars believe it was actually a nickname of sorts Jesus had for those closest to him. 

Now, if that’s the case, a nickname is rarely used to chastise. Instead, nicknames are most often used as a term of endearment, signifying a close, warm relationship. So, what if Jesus reached out his hand with a warm, endearing smile on his face, with a twinkle in his eye? Maybe a bit of light-hearted laughter - and a lot of care - in his tone? 

It’s a simple, subtle shift, I know. But it matters.

A.W. Tozer wrote, 

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” 

And it’s true. What we believe about God informs the way we live our lives and move through the world.  It influences our actions, our reactions, our decisions, and our priorities, and the way we treat others, just to name a few. But what we believe comes into God’s mind when God thinks about us matters, too. 

If, deep down, we believe we are disappointing or a burden, we will most likely operate from a place of fear and shame. We will walk through life on eggshells, hesitant to get out of the boat in the first place. And there’s a good chance we’ll end up treating others the same way. For some reason, that just doesn’t seem like the way it’s meant to be.

But, if we know and believe in our bones that God delights in us, finds great joy in relationship with us, and not only loves us but LIKES us, our lives will tell a much truer story.

We read in Zephaniah 3:17:

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Like a parent interacting with a child as they take their first steps, God is with us, delighting in us, cheering us on. There are days we stumble and fall down, plenty of days we fall short. But God’s correction is always paired with kindness. God’s guidance, with gentleness. And God’s lead, with love. Pure, wholehearted love. 

I think what Peter knew to be true of Jesus is what helped him get out of the boat. He wasn’t leaping toward a closed off, disappointed demeanor. He was leaping toward a warm welcome. An invitation that remained even as he started to sink. A loving presence that was and would be with him every step of the way.

I don’t know what high-dives you’re in line for or what boats you’re being invited to leap out of, but I do know that the God leading you, guiding you, and meeting you right where you are, is good. And kind. And takes great delight in you. 

So today and every day, may that truth be what we remember and hold onto as we seek to be the people God created us to be.