The Jesus I Know
A poem about Jesus, who reaches down to lift us
For Judy Love Perry, August 9, 2026. You are loved and never lost.
“Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
Matthew 14:29-33, NRSVUE
The Jesus I Know
After Matthew 14:22-33
The Jesus I know
is here, walking on
the dark, chaotic
waters of my life at 4 a.m.
The Jesus I know
plunges arms beneath
waves and raises me.
O soul, never forget:
no storm overtakes
no doubt ruins
the Jesus you know.
You will sink
and Jesus will save.
I don't know how
to make sense of today.
I don't know why I am
so afraid. I don't know why
the gutting anguish seems
stronger than the Jesus I know.
Yet Jesus keeps reaching down
and I keep coming up.
Lord, lift me.
Lord, lift us.Thanks so much for taking the time to read this poem.
One of the things that I keep coming back to as I read Matthew 14:22-33 is that Peter, the rock upon which Christ built the Church, experienced significant fear and doubt, even while seeing Christ overcoming the very things he was afraid of. Jesus gave Peter no reason, in that moment, to doubt that he would be okay. Yet, Peter does.
Peter reminds me of myself—and perhaps that’s the point. Jesus didn’t invite people to follow who were nearing perfection. He invited people who needed life with and in God—the sick, the broken, the poor—anyone who felt even the slightest tinge of desperation.
This is the Jesus I am getting to know. Sometimes it can feel like struggling isn’t allowed—God forbid in Christian community! But here stands Jesus—I AM—who reaches down to lift Peter. Jesus could’ve said, “Peter, your doubt is too much. You need to learn your lesson. I’m not going to pull you up, you must sink or swim!”
This story to me is the whole gospel: Jesus comes down, and we go up. Jesus’ life becomes ours so that our life can be united with his in death, resurrection, and union/glory.
How does Matthew 14:22-33 impact you, or my poem inspired by it?