George Michael said it best: You Gotta Have FAITH!

 
God is certainly stretching my faith… Recently, I heard a sermon from Luke 5, where Jesus called His first disciples; Simon Peter, James and John. These three were professional fishermen and this account picks up after a terrible night on the job. They’d come in from fishing (to no avail), likely exhausted, discouraged and maybe even a little bit angry, and they were wrapping things up, cleaning nets, etc. when Jesus came onto one of Simon Peter’s boats and asked him to row out a little way from the shore so that He could preach from it.
 
Fun fact: It’s been illustrated to me before that the boat was likely harbored in an inlet, and when they rowed away from the shore, it became a kind of stage for Jesus to teach from, amplifying his voice to all the people along the “arena-like” shoreline. I doubt Jesus needed the help of acoustics, but it creates a good visual in my mind, anyway. I digress… Let’s get back on the boat.
 
The fishermen pushed away from the shore. Jesus taught. Then, He issued a challenge of faith.
 
“Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4)
 
As I said, these guys were professionals. They might have had the urge to question Jesus’ command, wandering what on Earth would be the point of going back out after just ending such an unsuccessful night. But Simon Peter (also known as Peter) knew what Jesus was capable of (in Luke 4, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law from a near-fatal fever!) And so, in obedience and faith, they dropped the nets, and the Bible account says that the catch was so great that it broke their nets!
 
Peter, James and John were a little wigged out (understandably so, I’d say!) But Jesus urged them:
 
“Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” (Luke 5:10)
 
And again, demonstrating great faith, they didn’t question Him, but instead they gave up everything they knew, everything they owned, everything that had been their lives until that point, and they completely SOLD OUT for Jesus.
 
All of this… on Faith!
 
Extending my faith seems to be a recurring theme in my life, recently. Sure I trust God, but fully? Well…
 
A few days ago, I read “The Prayer of Jabez,” and one aspect of the prayer that stood out to me, particularly, was “…that Your hand would be with me…” (1 Chronicles 4:10)
 
Ever had someone tell you, “God will never give you more than you can handle?” As reassuring as that may seem, it’s not entirely accurate. Perhaps the quote should read, “God will never give you more than He can handle.” When you begin to serve God, and especially when you step out in faith, there is one guarantee: You Will Be In Over Your Head!
 
Think about Peter, James and John. When Jesus told them to sail into deep waters, you know a part of each of them had to be skeptical. And when He shocked their socks off with the haul, the Bible says Peter openly expressed how unworthy he was to be in the presence of Jesus. Then to top it off, Jesus beckoned them to cast aside their whole lives and go with him! I think we can classify that as “In Over Their Heads, for sure!” They knew how to catch fish, and apparently they weren’t even doing so hot at that on their own. How in the world was He supposed to use them for His glory?
 
How is He supposed to use me?
 
Trust me, I’ve fed him every excuse you can think of.
 
“God, you know all the stupid, wrong things I’ve done…”
 
“God, I can’t quote scripture off the top of my head…”
 
“God, no one pays attention to what I write or say…”
 
“God, I’m not comfortable in crowds of strangers…”
 
“God, I don’t worship in a contemporary way that reaches people…”
 
Blah. Blah. Blah. The list continues on, and on, and on, and on….
 
And then, in one of the most unlikely places, I read something like this:
 
“The only safe thing is to take a chance. Play safe and you are dead. Taking risks is the essence of good work, and the difference between safe and bold can only be defined by yourself since no one else knows for what you are hoping when you embark on anything.”
-Mike Nichols
 
I would tweak one thing about Mike’s quote… God knows. Furthermore, He can make it happen.
 
You see, it’s when we take chances… when we step out on faith… when we attempt the impossible that God is most glorified, because it is in those moments that we are forced to depend on Him.
 
“…that Your hand would be with me…”
 
The hand of the Lord is a biblical reference to God’s power in our lives, or in other words, it refers to the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, ordinary men do extraordinary things! People like you and me do the impossible! And when that is done, the world knows that ONLY God could have accomplished such a fete.
 
Plenty of aspects of The World Race have and continue to seem impossible to me. When I originally signed up, raising $15,500, plus accounting for personal expenses, plus accruing all the necessary gear items looked like an insurmountable goal. Three weeks ago, God shattered those barriers. For a kid who couldn’t be more of a “home body” it seems impossible to a lot of people (myself included) that I’ll be able to stand 11 months away from family, friends and “my little corner of the world.” I only wish I could express the peace I feel; when you know that God has lead you, fear and anxiety vanishes! That anything I could say or do would manage to influence and impact others so often feels like a ludicrous, impossible dream. Yet, I have watched God greatly expand my territory through my writing, fulfilling one of my greatest dreams in the process.
 
If our God is for us, who can stand against us?
 
Don't be afraid. Put out into the deep water. Take a chance. Attempt the impossible.
 
Be Blessed,
Ashlee