Peter had some confidence in Jesus because he got out of the boat and walked on the water. However, Peter ultimately had more confidence in the power of the wind than he had in Jesus, the Creator of the wind (Mt 14:30).

Let's test our own confidence level:

• Do you have more confidence in the stubbornness of your spouse, child, parent, coworker, pastor, or parish council than you have in the power of Jesus to change their hearts?
• Are you more confident in the tendency of people to reject your witness to Jesus than you are in the ability of the Holy Spirit to spur them to respond to the Lord?
• Do you have more confidence that you won't have the energy or finances necessary to have a large family than you have in the ability of God the Father to supply the grace, love, and resources you need day by day?
• Do you have more confidence in the staying power of your compulsions, addictions, sins, and personal shortcomings than you have in the ability of Jesus to overcome them and give you a risen, victorious, and pure life?

Fix your eyes on the power of the Lord Jesus (Heb 12:2) instead of on your problems. "Do not, then, surrender your confidence; it will have great reward" (Heb 10:35).

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2010

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