If you've ever stood at the edge of a swimming pool or the ocean shoreline convincing yourself that the water isn't really that cold, it helps us understand about faith. It often feels as though taking the first step is the most uncertain.

Both of this week's readings were written into communities discovering that following Jesus wasn't always the easy option. Paul was writing to the Christians in Rome, encouraging a church made up of Jews and Gentiles learning to live as one family in Christ. They didn't need to search for God in distant places or earn God's favour through extraordinary effort. 

As Paul reminds them, "The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." God had already drawn near in Christ, and now they were called to share that good news with others.

Matthew tells the story of the disciples caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. They had only just witnessed Jesus feed more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Yet abundance quickly gives way to anxiety. The wind rises, the waves crash, and fear takes over until Jesus comes to them with those timeless words: "Take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid."

It's a gentle reminder of how quickly life can change. One day we celebrate unexpected blessings; the next we're navigating uncertainty. The Christian life isn't lived by staying safely in the boat, nor by pretending the storms aren't real. It is lived by trusting that Christ comes to meet us in the midst of them.

Paul says faith is as close as our own heartbeat—"The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." Matthew shows us what that faith looks like when it takes its first uncertain step.

Perhaps this week your step of faith won't involve anything spectacular. It may simply be offering encouragement, speaking hope into someone's difficult day, extending forgiveness, or saying "yes" to where God is gently leading.

The wind may still blow, but the good news is this: Christ is already there, calling us forward, holding us steady, and reminding us that courage grows wherever faith takes its first step.

Blessings — Rev. Carmel Sheraton