She was sitting in the car, alone. She had just experienced a pretty traumatic event. Her face started to fill with emotion as she fought off the tears. But she just couldn’t! The tears began to fall as her shoulders started to shake slowly. Then, in an instant, it all came out. And try as she might, she began to lose control as she lay her head on the steering wheel and sobbed. But just as quickly as she lost control of her emotions, she regained them and shut them down. She looked in the rearview mirror and tried to wipe away the tears to avoid being discovered. She took a deep breath and sat looking out the windshield if to refocus on the task at hand. She took a deep breath and then started up the car.

The scene ended on the television, but its message stayed with me. It highlighted what it is to be human, and a flashback came to my mind when I, too, sat in a car and played that very same role—but it was real life. Has anyone ever lived who hasn’t had that moment when the world seemed too big? The life-changing event before us appears to cascade over our souls and almost drown us with emotion.

It is in those moments that it seems like a power greater than you lifts and carries you above the sea of emotion that threatens to drown you. Because if you are like me, you cry out for help, whether verbally or in your mind. And if you can exercise a particle of faith, it seems that the story of Peter becomes real.

“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…” (Matthew 14)

I know that there will be another act of this same scene ahead of me. And no matter how hard I prepare myself, I will start to sink. But I know I have the Savior there who will lift me out again. And no matter how often this scene is replayed in my life, I am comforted in having that knowledge and in knowing that He will never let me drown.