In Matthew the beautiful incident of Jesus walking on the water is recorded. Here we read that when the disciples knew it was Jesus, Peter called out (14:28), "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." The record goes on: "And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Peter's experience was new to him—a new undertaking. We have no record of his having walked on the water before. As long as he looked on Jesus he felt safe, but when he looked away and saw the water, wind, and waves, he started to sink.

This happened centuries ago, yet the lesson it teaches is practical today. When anticipation and expectation fill us with new hope, we are often like Peter. As we stand on the threshold of a new undertaking or a new venture which will mean progress and a greater sense of freedom, we are sometimes afraid. The undertaking may be enlarging one's business or starting a new activity, leaving one's parent's home to establish a home of one's own, or re-establishing oneself after losing a loved one.

When we hear the Christ say, "Come," then is the time to listen steadfastly to the Christ, not to what aggressive mental suggestions may present. The carnal mind would try to prevent us from going forward, from progressing, for, as Paul tells us, "the carnal mind is enmity aganist God" (Rom. 8:7).

When the waters of mortal mind surge around us, we must watch our thinking and radically rely on Truth. The Christ lifts us above the waves of suggestion, the ill winds of slow business or no business, or the storms of hard times and failure. The waters of opposition, competition, or inexperience would try to make us sink into the waves of helplessness, doubt, uncertainty, and fear. But listening for the Christ, we shall hear the message of Truth, "Wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Mary Baker Eddy tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 260), "Science reveals the possibility of achieving all good, and sets mortals at work to discover what God has already done; but distrust of one's ability to gain the goodness desired and to bring out better and higher results, often hampers the trial of one's wings and ensures failure at the outset."

One gains confidence in Truth when he realizes that man, the child of God, being spiritual, already possesses by reflection all that the Father has. In Christian Science we demonstrate through prayer and communion with God our at-one-ment with all good, with God. As we bring our thinking into conformity with the law of God, recognizing man's at-one-ment with the Father, from whom cometh all good, we realize that we reflect the divine nature and dominion and thereby are able to walk over the waves of error. We then prove the presence of the good already provided by the Father for His children. Whatever our need is at the time will humanly appear in a form that we are able to see and use in our present state of existence.

It was natural for Jesus to walk on the water, to feed the multitudes, and to raise the dead. He understood his at-one-ment with the Father and recognized that in their true nature all are at one with God. Christ Jesus knew that all things were put under his feet and that all mankind could express true dominion. He taught us this truth by example and precept. We must follow him and do likewise, not for self-glory or personal gain but to prove man's at-one-ment with God, the Father. We must prove man's dominion.

We may not at present possess all the spiritual knowledge, or truth, needed to demonstrate the power to walk on the water. But we have this truth today in Science and Health, given to us by Mrs. Eddy. Here our Leader presents rules and instructions for us to follow so that we may learn how to walk over the waves of error and so resist the flood of suggestions of the carnal mind.

Steadfast adherence to these rules as well as growth in spiritual understanding will make us conscious of man's spiritual nature, power, freedom, and dominion.

Helplessness, limitation, timidity, have no source in God, who is the source of all true ability, and through Christian Science we are equipped to prove that man reflects God's strength and wisdom. With this understanding we are able to challenge every phase of mortal mind. The Christ is forever ready to uphold us tenderly. Mrs. Eddy discerned the Christ so clearly and felt its presence so near that she could say to us in her poem "Christ My Refuge" (Poems, p. 12):

So let us not doubt or be afraid, but only believe and go forward with the assurance that the Christ is near to each one of us. Its power is ever present to save, to heal, to comfort, to inspire, and to restore. The Christ is the foundation on which all can build securely. Then how helpful it is to remember the Master's words to Peter, "Wherefore didst thou doubt?"