by Rev. Michael Shewburg
Summer has a way of changing our pace. We trade heavy coats for sandals, long meetings for long evenings, and we find ourselves outside more — on trails, by lakes, under the stars.
In Matthew 14, we find Peter doing something we might call the ultimate summer activity: walking on water. The waves are high, the wind is strong, the disciples are terrified…and Peter steps out of the boat toward Jesus. For a moment, he balances — full of trust. But then fear creeps in, and he begins to sink.
It’s a lot like learning to balance — on a bike, a paddleboard, or even just one foot. We don’t learn in the middle of a storm. We learn in steady moments, through small acts of practice. Peter’s courage on the water came after countless ordinary days with Jesus — listening, following, trusting.
Faith works the same way.
We can treat summer like an “off-season” for our spiritual lives, but it can also be a quiet training ground for the soul. What we practice now — a morning prayer, noticing beauty on a walk, sharing a meal in gratitude — anchors us for the storms later.
Peter also reminds us that worship isn’t just for inside church walls. He meets Jesus on the water, worships on the beach, prays on mountaintops. The sea, the shore, the wind — all become sacred space. That’s good news for us in summer, when God may be waiting for us in the canoe, around the campfire, or in the hush of a sunset.
But Peter always comes back to the boat. Faith is deeply personal — but it’s also something we share. We meet God in the quiet of nature, but we grow deeper when we return to community, to be strengthened, challenged, and reminded we’re not alone.
So this summer, I invite you to ask: What small thing will I do to grow my faith? Not out of guilt, but with intention. One steady rhythm. One simple practice.
Anchor yourself now, so when the waves rise, you’ll know where to turn. And if you do start to sink? Remember — Peter did too. And Jesus still had him.
And He’s got you.
Prayer to Carry With You:
Holy One, still my soul. Anchor me in Your deep love.
Open my eyes to Your presence — in this day, in these faces, in the quiet within.
Here I am. Here You are. Lead me deeper into Your peace.
Rev. Michael Shewburg (he/him), Minister - Wesley United Church, Cambridge, ON