Do Not Be Afraid

This past weekend's Gospel reading touched me and has stayed with me through the week... 

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
- Matthew 14:22-33 

via googlinggod.com

I keep moving forward, but I don't know what's next.  At times, I am walking along, feeling confident, but then something unexpected happens, something I'm not sure how to handle.  And it's those times that I have to remember to trust.  "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." 

In yoga the past several weeks, when the instructor has asked us to set our intention for our practice, two words have been bubbling to mind... "Relax" and "Trust."  But as much as I try to do those two things in my daily life, I still find myself getting frustrated.  I get stressed.  I doubt.  "Lord, save me!"

But in those wonderful moments when I feel calm and peace come over me, those moments when I remember that it will all turn out for the best, even if I don't know how or when... those are the times that I have faith and feel secure that God has a plan.  "Truly, you are the Son of God."

For now, I have to take courage.  I have to trust.  Even if it occasionally means saying "Lord, save me!"