Mathew 14:27-31 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

My daughter, who was leading our family discussion, explained that this same loss of faith often exists in situations that no one else can see. Peter was sinking into the sea, about to drown. However, often our storms are within, we battle them alone. Yet, they are still just as scary, and the feeling of drowning just as real. She explained that the idea of moving has caused her to sink at times. She has prayed and received a clear answer, and she trusts the Lord to know where she should be, yet it’s difficult to leave her friends and all that she knows. She said that she’ll be walking with faith, mentally preparing for the move, and then the storms hit and she finds herself engulfed in fear. Fear of not finding new friends, and leaving the friends that she has. Fear of not having her running team, and not blending as well with her new team. As these fears set in, her only way of not drowning is to reach for the Saviors hand, and to realign her trust.

Howard W. Hunter reiterates the fact that everyone living in this mortality will at some point, and most likely is at this moment dealing with a storm of some kind causing their faith to waiver. “All of us have seen some sudden storms in our lives. A few of them, though temporary like these on the Sea of Galilee, can be violent and frightening and potentially destructive. As individuals, as families, as communities, as nations, even as a church, we have had sudden squalls arise which have made us ask one way or another, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” And one way or another we always hear in the stillness after the storm, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

None of us would like to think we have no faith, but I suppose the Lord’s gentle rebuke here is largely deserved. This great Jehovah, in whom we say we trust and whose name we have taken upon us, is he who said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” (Gen. 1:6.) And he is also the one who said, “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear.” (Gen. 1:9.) Furthermore, it was he who parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry ground. (See Ex. 14:21–22.) Certainly it should be no surprise that he could command a few elements acting up on the Sea of Galilee. And our faith should remind us that he can calm the troubled waters of our lives.” (Howard W. Hunter October 1984)

After Chelsea explained her own daily storms of life, the kids, one-by-one, shared their inner battles of fear. It was interesting to hear and understand that at the youngest ages they still experience fear. Yet it was encouraging to hear their greater faith. Young children have a natural belief in the Savior’s ability to rescue them. They get it.

After this discussion, one of my kids wanted to stay after school and play on the play ground with his friend. The friend’s mom wasn’t being very kind about the idea and refused to allow her son to stay and play. My son was bothered by this especially since he knows the mom, and really thinks a lot of her! Then he realized, that maybe she was dealing with an inner battle that he couldn’t see or understand. He suddenly had compassion on her, and never said another word. 

“When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.” -Henry B. Eyring

What a blessing the scriptures have on our lives when we allow them to not only heal our own battles but we allow them to build compassion and empathy for others. When we stop judging and start loving. When we assume the best in others instead of the worst. When we allow others to have a bad day, free from offense. When we follow the golden rule and treat others the way we want to be treated…or even better then we want to be treated.

Short story by Marion D. Hanks “Recently, I visited the Junior Sunday School meeting in connection with the stake conference where I was assigned. As I entered the room I saw a little girl crying and looking very lost and very, very frightened. Her parents had just deposited her and gone on to the meeting with the big people. In a moment a wonderful young teacher reached her, knelt by her, and put her arms around her and comforted her. The sobs turned to sniffles and peace began to enter a little heart. Just then the second act in the drama began. Another youngster appeared and started to cry also, frightened and feeling alone like the other had. The young teacher, still holding the first little one, reached the second child, and knelt by her and enveloped her in her arms. As she did I heard her say to the first little girl, “Ellen, this young lady is frightened and lonesome. Will you help me make her feel welcome?”

The first youngster, her sniffles barely dried, nodded, and the two little children, in the safe haven of the teacher’s arms, supported each other and soon both were quieted. The teacher put three chairs together and sat between the two of them, a hand gently resting on each.

When I left that morning I thought I had seen as clearly as I am capable of seeing how the Lord expects us to treat each other, and how wonderful it is to have someone who has lived a little longer and learned to love, to reach out and help us, and then help us help others.” (Marion D. Hanks October 1977)

-Sherri Jorgensen