That Sinking Feeling

The evening started with supper,
a most unusual one.
We'd found only five buns and two fish
but we needed to feed a throng.
Jesus blessed those fish and the bread.
He gave them to us and we served,
all ate and were filled--5000 strong.

Such gracious multiplication
should have increased our faith, too,
but we still had more to grow.

Jesus told us goodbye and sent us ahead
across the lake, and we began to row.
We rowed really hard but didn't get far--
we struggled against that blow.

Near sunrise we saw something that spooked us,
"It's a ghost!" we cried out with fear.
But the voice of our Lord calmed our spirits,
"Don't be afraid, it is I," as he drew near.

Then I, man of the moment,
called out, as he walked on the sea,
"Lord, if it's you, have me walk to you."
And he said, "Come to me."

I got out of the boat and started walking
on the water, but then looked around--
I felt the wind, saw the waves and feared,
for I wasn't on solid ground.

Right then I began to sink
and I cried out with alarm,
"Lord, save me", I called to Jesus.
And he reached out his arm
And lifted me up from the water.
He taught me more what trust was about--
I didn't have much, he told me,
and, "Peter, why did you doubt?"

As soon as we climbed in the boat
the wind calmed on the sea.
We were amazed at our Master
and worshiped his majesty.

We had such small faith and short memory:
We'd forgotten how he'd just taken bread
that same evening when the crowd was hungry
and met their need as they were all fed.

Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52

Copyright 1993 by Wayne Leman