Friday, September 7, 2012

Face Your Fears

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

-- Matthew 14:25-31

What would it take to give you the courage to step out of the boat and walk on water?

Seriously. Oh, come on. You know I’m not talking about literally walking on the water. I’m referring to stepping out in faith and actually doing whatever it is that God has called you to do.

Maybe your excuse is that you don’t know what God wants you to do. Most of us say that when we don’t really want to do what we secretly think God wants us to do.

So, let me ask you again: What would it take to convince you to get out of that boat? Don’t you realize it was difficult for Peter too? There was a storm. They were afraid. And, yet, there was Jesus and He said “Come,” and Peter followed Him. And when Peter started to sink, he cried out to Jesus and Jesus caught him. You read that part didn’t you? Jesus caught him. Peter didn’t drown that day, even when his faith faltered. Because Peter was following Jesus.

If you’re like me, you rarely set foot on a boat. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t sitting in one right now. Think of the boat as something that’s comfortable and, maybe, convenient. It sure is easier to make excuses than it is to face your fear and step out in faith.

Of course, maybe that boat does good things. Maybe you’re comfortable being a high school teacher but you feel God calling you to work with disadvantaged youth. Maybe you’re a stay-at-home mother and you feel God calling you to become a foster parent. Maybe God wants you to go on a foreign mission trip or coach a church sports team or work with the elderly. And maybe you don’t want to do what you’ve never done or go where you’ve never gone or give up your free time and maybe even a little of your money.

Do it anyway. Get out of the boat. Take a chance. Trust God’s call on your life, knowing that He will bless you beyond anything you could imagine simply for doing whatever it is He’s called you to do. And trust Him to catch you, to sustain you, and to guide you. He didn’t call you to walk on the water alone. He’s right there with you. So go ahead and take a stroll.