This is one of the more famous stories in the New Testament, most likely because it speaks in such a profound way to each of our hearts.

Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.  When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.  "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage!  It is I.  Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

I was reminded of this passage recently in a conversation with a friend when I was discussing ways I was frustrated in my own life, struggling to keep my head above water.  Stress had overtaken me, and I found at times that I was consumed with worry about future events - how I was going to get everything done, how I was going to pay my bills, how I was going to be the kind of Christian I knew God had called me to be.  I've felt far too weak for the circumstances life has placed me in, and I've doubted at times whether God knew exactly what He was doing.

"Lord, don't you see what I'm going through?  Don't you know my pain?  I'm only one person and I can't keep treading water like this forever - and those are some pretty big waves approaching!"

It dawned on me that I often live my life like Peter, trying to do things on my own the best I can, worrying about what's going to happen next, and crying out to God when things finally get unbearable.  And just as in this story, God snatches me out of harm's way at the last minute and brings me through the storm, but only to place me in the middle of another one.

Jesus saves Peter when he cries out to him, but he's disappointed in Peter's lack of faith.  Rather than crying out, "Lord save me!" when he was about to drown, Jesus had hoped Peter would have faith and keep his eyes on Jesus, trusting in him despite the wind and the waves.

If you're going through storms in your own life right now - whatever is causing you stress and anxiety - ask yourself where your trust is.  Do you believe that God will bring you through this unscathed?  Do you really?

Usually, I have enough faith to walk out into the middle of the ocean, but then I get distracted by the troubles in my life.  Suddenly, I don't have time for my usual quiet time with God, and I begin focusing on the stress in my life rather than the One who's in charge of it all.  I ask God why this difficulty is in my life, and I try to eliminate the problem.

But as I read this passage, I suddenly realize what an amazing image it would be to see Peter standing firm, keeping his eyes on Christ, as waves towered over him and crashed onto his head, not even fazing him.  That's much more spectacular than merely standing on a placid lake!  And it begins to dawn on me that yes, God knows exactly what I'm going through, and He's right there ready to catch me if I fall.  But what God's really hoping is that I'll keep my eyes on Christ, not on my troubles, and that I'll prove myself to be the child of God that I am.

And when I fail, He'll patiently try it again.