St. John Chrysostom once reflected on today’s Gospel, noting that Jesus “did not command the winds to cease, but stretched forth His hand and caught [Peter], because his faith was required.”
Peter may have hoped Jesus would calm the storm immediately—but He didn’t. Instead, Jesus reached out to him.
Life is full of storms: chaos, turmoil, and unexpected challenges. Like Peter, we often focus more on the storm than on the Lord. When we do, fear and anxiety can quickly take over, and we begin to sink. In our desperation, we cry out, “Lord, save me!”
Two things are worth noticing about Jesus in this passage: First, He is present in the storm. Second, He reaches out to us. Always.
The storm itself is not the real problem. Storms come and go. They are not sent by God, and they often serve as distractions. The deeper issue is our doubt—our lack of faith—which can magnify the storm and make it seem more powerful than it truly is.
Earlier in the Gospel, Jesus is seen praying alone. This moment of communion with His Father is where His human nature is strengthened by the divine. He gives us an example: prayer is how we remain anchored in faith. It’s how we grow in trust and confidence, not just in fair weather but especially in the storm.
When we turn to prayer, we draw near to God’s strength. And when the winds rise, we can be confident of the Lord’s presence and help to persevere.
Living in Love with God 
Leave a comment