“Why did you doubt?” (Devo reflection)

Matt 14:30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, Save me!”
The fact that Jesus rebukes Peter, chides him when he calls for Jesus to save him when he starts sinking, has always bothered me a bit. The encourager in me wants Jesus to be uplifting—“Good try, Peter. You stepped out of the boat. You took a few steps. Now let’s work on your focused concentration on Me.” Chastisement doesn’t quite seem fair. I mean, none of the other disciples even had the courage to get out of the boat. Come on, Jesus. What are You doing?
Matt 14:31 Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of [Peter], saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 
But our precious Savior isn’t concerned about boosting Peter’s ego. He’s not concerned with what the other disciples are doing or not doing. His concern is helping Peter shore up his faith, a faith that he will need to be rock-solid when times get even tougher, which He knows is coming. Yes, Peter has the courage to get out of the boat. Yes, Peter has the courage to walk toward Jesus. But Jesus knew that if Peter had just kept his eyes on Jesus, if he had just moved in Jesus’s strength instead of his own, he would have been able to make it safely to His arms. He needed Peter to understand that lesson, too.
Mark 4:40 “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the understanding that You have granted me for this passage. Thank You that Your goal is for us to be so focused on You that we never take our eyes off of You, that we always move in Your power, that we never begin sinking in our doubt. I have made progress on this front, Lord, but I still have so far to go. Help me, Jesus. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matt 14:32 And when they climbed back in the boat, the wind died down.
Have a blessed day.