When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshipped Him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.                      

(Matthew 14:32-33 NLT)

 
I like to do triathlons (swim/bike/run).
 
The most recent one I did had a 1.2 mile swim. You have to train for that, especially when it’s followed by 56 miles on the bike, then a 13.1 mile run.
 
I trained for months. Because this triathlon was in October, the water was cool, so I was able to use a wetsuit. Swimming with a wetsuit is much easier, because it makes you buoyant. So all your energy can be used to propel yourself forward, rather than keeping yourself afloat.
 
Floating is one thing. Walking on water would be quite another! You don’t train to walk on water. Walking on water is…supernatural.
 
The disciples recognized that in a big way. When Jesus walked on water to them, then calmed the storm when He got into the boat, they exclaimed, “You really are the Son of God!”
 
What I find ironic is that they had seen Jesus do many miracles by now, yet still didn’t “get it.” He had healed people, calmed a storm, and had JUST fed 10,000+ people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Could there still be any doubt that He was the Son of God?
 
But, then, I think about my own faith. Do I believe Jesus is the Son of God? Absolutely! So…how do I handle the storms that come my way? With complete trust and dependence on Jesus? Not so much. I still seem to worry, stress, doubt, and wonder why Jesus doesn’t intervene and make everything “okay.”
 
Fortunately, Jesus is patient with me, just like He was with the disciples. He actually placed them in “storms” quite frequently, so that they would learn to trust Him! He does the same with me.
 
So, my prayer during difficult times no longer should be, “Jesus, get me out of this mess!” Instead, it can be, “Jesus, help me trust You during this difficult time. Use my trials to help me grow in my understanding of You.”
 
When I begin to pray like that, I will, with the disciples, be able to exclaim, “You really are the Son of God!”