I love Peter. Whether or not we like to admit it, he’s so relatable to the human experience. He has such a big heart to follow Jesus, but his imperfections still show up a lot. Jesus’ love and compassion for Peter in these moments give us a picture of His love for us when we fall short, too. Let’s take a look at one of the most classic Peter stories—when he walks on water to Jesus.

It is officially starting to turn into my favorite time of the year in Mississippi. I LOVE the fall and winter months! As a kid born in Alaska, I have this innate need for the weather to be in the 50s and 60s to enjoy a fun evening walk. Personally, I’m not a fan of burning to a crisp while simultaneously melting on short walks in the neighborhood. However, if we can go for a walk, need a hoodie or jacket, and have a hot cup of coffee for the journey, I can easily pretend we’re in New York City, strolling through Central Park as we navigate the little curves in the road.

It’s been a little over a year since we moved into our new home. One of the things we loved about the house when we bought it was the yard: big enough for our kids to play in, yet small enough to manage easily—especially with our busy schedules. Hear me: "easy to manage" is a BIG DEAL for us! The previous owners had done a lovely job maintaining the house—the flower beds contained perfectly groomed hedges and a variety of roses, and the grass was beautifully kept and weed-free. Shortly after we moved in, however, I noticed some tall grass popping up out of the pine mulch in our flower beds, even making its way up through the hedges with long strands protruding from the branches. I spent several hours trying to get this grass out by the root. Much to my surprise, the same grass returned just a few weeks later, even thicker and stronger than before.

I have a confession to make: I am unapologetically a dreamer, envisioning what this life can be and the good that can be done. I’m not just optimistic about life—I am overly optimistic about it. It’s not so much a question of whether the glass is half-empty or half-full; it’s about how much space is in the cup for it to reach its potential! Is the glass empty? That just means it has the capacity to be full! I wish everyone would think this way, but I have encountered many doubters and unbelievers along the way.

The illustration of the potter and clay in Isaiah 45:9-12 can also be found in Jeremiah 18:1-6, Romans 9:20, and Isaiah 29:16. This repetition should bring to our attention that God really wants us to know we can trust Him with what He’s doing in our lives. Notice that Isaiah 45 mentions that sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator about His work. To do so shows that we do not fully trust God, but practicing this undivided faith can be difficult.