“O you of little faith …”
Matthew 14:31.

That’s me!

Or should I say, that’s how I sometimes describe me. It’s not my identity.

Luke 16:10, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, …”,
My scripture for 2026, set me on a journey
looking at the word little in the gospel of Matthew.***

Matthew 14:22-33 is the account of Jesus walking on the water toward the terrified disciples in the middle of a storm. Jesus knows that in the midst of this storm, the disciples might not remember his authority over the wind and the waves that they personally experienced when Jesus was in the boat with them, asleep. (Matthew 8:23-27) This time Jesus is not in the boat with them; however he saw their predicament and came toward them walking on the water.

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The last few verses record Peter’s reaction. “Lord, IF it is you, command me to come to you on the water. (Matthew 14:28, capitalization is mine.)

Peter wants more proof than Jesus’s words. Jesus had initiated toward the boat full of disciples, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) But Peter …

Jesus is an initiator. He initiated toward the entire group of fearful disciples. The Bible does not record the disciples calling first to Jesus. Perhaps they thought it was worthless. After all they were a long way from shore. (Matthew 14:24) Distance does not affect Jesus. He is a responder.

Jesus recognized their fear and his rescue mission was immediate.

At Peter’s lack of trust, Jesus invites, “Come.” (Matthew 14:29) Jesus met Peter where he was. He didn’t scold for his unbelief. He invites. And when Peter’s trust waivers, he is close enough to Jesus to grab his hand. “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him.” (Matthew 14:31)

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Jesus immediately rescued. He met Peter at his point of need.

And then he commented and asked, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)

I find encouragement in this narrative. I’m in good company. O you of little faith were Jesus’s words to Peter as he began to sink walking on the water.

Sinking … that’s part of my story too.

Don’t they know what I have to offer? Those words float through my brain far to often.
Why wasn’t I asked to minister to that group?
Why wasn’t I invited to that training?
Sinking questions.

As I remember the stories that fit with those questions, I’m not sure I felt as though my rescue was immediate. It sometimes seemed a long time in coming.

But God.

But then God in His GENEROUS GENTLENESS and perfect timing reminds me,

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Jeremiah 31:3

I reach for Jesus’s hand and trust once again.

Copyright:  Sue Tell, January 2026

*** “O you of little faith” appears in several Matthew narratives:
Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 14:28-33
Matthew 16:5-12
Matthew 17:19-21