Matthew 14:28-31 “And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”

Genesis 3:7-8 “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

In these two passages of scripture we see two very different responses to circumstances. Both Peter and Adam and Eve were in desperate need of God’s mercy and help, and yet, only Peter cried out to the Lord. When he did, the Lord, who was still some distance away (because Peter was walking out to him), instantly appeared at Peter’s side, able to grab hold of him and rescue him from his predicament. When Peter saw his surroundings, his circumstances, he instantly forgot the truth that Jesus can and would sustain him. With Adam and Eve, the situation was only slightly different. They too forgot to trust in God (and what He had told them) and they had been disobedient. At the time they needed God most, they chose to hide, ashamed of their failure and undoubtedly fearful of the consequences. In Peter’s case, he was chided for not having enough faith and doubting God. In the case of Adam and Eve the consequences were a bit more dire and longer lasting. Still, God did not abandon them but clothed them. What kept them from running to God quickly? Sin. They didn’t know God, though. His plan to redeem man was already in place.

Pray: “Heavenly Father, I don’t know why my first reaction when I have done something wrong is to hide the deed. It is not like you have not already seen it, not like you did not know ahead of time the times I would fall and need help standing and recovering. Help me to remember your desire to care for me when I feel unworthy. Your desire is not based on anything but your great love for me. I will run quickly to you Lord, in the name of my righteous brother and Savior, Jesus – Amen”