Peter not only got out of his comfort zone, but he did the impossible. He did what others said he could not do. We need to encourage, reinforce, and motivate students to believe they can achieve the impossible. Peter while on the water, seeing that the wind was boisterous, became afraid and began to sink. Peter took his eyes of Jesus and focused on his circumstances.
Students come to school every day surrounded and consumed with circumstances.
Concerns as small as what to wear to school, hair styles or whom to sit with at lunch. Circumstances as large as broken families, pregnancy, depression, and drugs. Teachers are not immune to focusing on problems and circumstances. We can call be distracted by circumstances and remaining focused on these circumstances can bring fear and a feeling of drowning. We, as Christian educators, need to pray for understanding, sensitivity, and compassion to help guide our students.