Pastor Tom Grieb continues our sermon series "Overcomers."

You have heard it said that “the night is always darkest right before the dawn.”  That was certainly true for the disciples as they made their way across the Sea of Galilee in the middle of a furious storm.  They feared for their lives.  They had all but given up hope when Jesus made his way out to them walking on the water.  At first, they thought he was a ghost, but his words, “Take courage!  It is I.  Do not be afraid,” turned things radically for them.

Peter immediately said, “If it is you, bid me to come to you.”  You might say that Peter “stepped up and stepped out.”  He climbed out of the boat and begin to walk on the water as well.  As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was above the storm.  When he let the storm get to him though, he began to sink.  He had become more focused on the storm than the one who was the calm in the storm.  Who of us during this season of Covid-19 hasn’t had our attention more on the storm than upon our Savior who stands ready to sustain us through it?

The good news in all of this is that the second Peter began to sink Christ extended his hand Peter’s way and pulled him up.  Christ’s hand is extended our way as well.  Jesus comes to pull us from that sinking feeling that all might be lost and puts us at the very place we needed to have been all along, holding his loving hand extended our way.