“Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” —Matthew 14:29–30 (NIV)
The story of Peter stepping out onto the waves is a vivid picture of what it feels like to follow Christ in chaotic times. The disciples were battered by the storm when Jesus appeared, walking on the water. Peter’s bold request, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come,” was met with a simple invitation: “Come.” For a few miraculous steps, Peter walked where no human could walk alone. But when his eyes shifted from Jesus to the storm, fear overtook him, and he began to sink.
That image has come to mind often lately. At work, change seems constant—a new ILS last year, shifting leadership, and an office full of people still finding their footing (eight of fifteen have changed roles in six months). Some days it feels like the ground keeps moving beneath me. I wonder: What am I supposed to be learning from all this?; Why so much upheaval? Beyond work, the storm continues—retirement, moving, family medical issues, saying goodbye to a beloved pet, and welcoming a new one. And beyond home, the world itself feels like it’s spinning faster every day. Some moments, I don’t even know which wave to watch first. It’s in those moments that I realize how easily my focus drifts from Christ to the chaos around me.
Like Peter, I lose my footing when I stare at the waves instead of the One who called me to follow Him. Yet this story isn’t about Peter’s failure—it’s about Jesus’ faithfulness. Before Peter could sink, Christ reached out His hand. The path held steady because the One who called him was steady. Scripture reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). A lamp doesn’t light the whole journey—just the next step. I often want a floodlight that shows the end from the beginning, but God gives a lamp and asks me to trust Him, step by step.
As Christian librarians, we live among stories—but we’re also part of God’s story. In a world filled with shifting narratives, we are called to keep our eyes fixed on Christ—the Living Word—who anchors us in truth and steadies our path. The storms may not stop. Change at work, in family, and in the world will continue. But if our gaze remains on Jesus, we won’t lose the path. And when we stumble, His hand is already reaching out.
Prayer: Lord, in the chaos of change, keep my eyes on You. When the waves rise, help me trust the path You set before me. When I falter, lift me up. May Your Word be the lamp that guides my steps today. Amen.
Karie Straube
Karie works as the Systems Librarian at Yavapai County Free Library District. She has been an ACL member since 2019 and currently resides in Prescott, AZ.