A recent write-up on Joseph Schooling in the Straits Times reads: “The hardest thing for Joseph Schooling . . . In the call room, he’s still safe.  In the cramped call room, with its eight big men with eight bigger egos; he’s “zoned out,” losing himself in music.  However, Joseph Schooling’s calm is about to be shaken. The swimmers are called and suddenly there he is, by the blocks, the water waiting, the world watching, his name on the board in front and world record holders by his side.  It is no longer safe.  ‘The real problem,’ said Schooling ‘is when you take off the headphones and hear the crowd.’  The noise, and firing of camera flashes, is his raucous reality check.  He cannot go back to the call room. He has to literally strip and, metaphorically, stand exposed in front of the world. This is real.”  For Joseph Schooling, the music and the headset are what keep him calm before a race.  Once the headset and music are off, the reality sets in.  When he sees the greatness of swimmers like Michael Phelps, his fears set in.

This also happened to Apostle Peter on two occasions. Peter faltered because he lost faith in the Lord Jesus.  He allowed the difficult and fearful situations to overpower him instead of depending on unwavering faith in his Saviour Jesus Christ to overcome the circumstances.  In Luke 22:54-62 “Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.  Peter followed at a distance.  And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.  A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight.  She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with him.’  But he denied it.  ‘Woman, I don’t know him,’ he said.  A little later someone else saw him and said, ‘You also are one of them.’  ‘Man, I am not!’ Peter replied.  About an hour later another asserted, ‘Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.’  Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’  Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’  And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

On another occasion, Peter starts to sink when he looks at and focuses on the waves instead of having faith in the LORD Jesus.  In Matthew 14:22-33 –“Immediately Jesus made the disciples gets 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.  Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  Shortly before dawn 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.”

The circumstances surrounding us often cause us to lose faith.  In the case of Peter, they were the waves, the fear of being arrested and persecution, which caused Peter’s downfall.  We must not let circumstances affect our belief and trust in God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Jesus has to correct and save Peter, and to remind him who his Lord is.  Jesus is the Son of God, the Almighty God himself.  Let us be men of great faith. The next time when we are troubled, may we not lose faith but be strong in our steadfast belief of who our Saviour and Lord is.  Do not let circumstances overcome us.   Jesus is both willing and able to help us and see us through our difficulties and our fears.  Just as Jesus came to rescue Peter, Jesus will see us through our challenges.   Let us be men of great faith.