Why did Jesus choose an imperfect man like Peter? How could He love a man like Peter? The reason we wonder is because behind, underneath, and wrapped around those questions is a deeper more personal one: how can Jesus love me? We relate to Peter, not because of his personality, but because he was every bit as flawed as we are. One moment, his faith stood strong, and the next, he opposed God's will with his own.

Peter was like us, with a desire for what is right but so inclined toward what is wrong. He was not exceptional by nature, but God used him exceptionally because he never stopped giving himself to God a little more completely after each lesson of the failure found in himself.

What turned out to be Peter's greatest strength was admitting his own weakness: his need for a Savior. Why did Jesus choose Peter? It was because of grace, always and only. Peter knew it and never stopped pointing others to Jesus. Walking on Water is for every follower of Christ who has fallen flat on his or her face and failed completely one time or another-or many times over. Jesus picked Peter up every time, and he'll pick you up, too, whether you feel you deserve it or not.