“I believe if Jesus calls me to get out of the boat, He is going to be there to help me walk on the water. If I start to sink, which sometimes I do, He’ll reach His hand down and He’ll lift me up.” -Joyce Meyer
The day is here! My bags are packed, my “see ya later’s” are said, I took my last shower in America… and this afternoon, I get on a plane to Panama. I want to send a HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported me this far because I wouldn’t be here without you!
Has this past week been hard? Absolutely. There’s nothing easy or enjoyable about leaving behind the most incredible family a girl could ever ask for… siblings who are my world and parents who believe in me enough to fly down to Atlanta for my launch. It’s tough to take on a mission when you don’t really feel like you’re good enough for it. And it takes a bold leap of faith to step into something that you know is going to change you but you’re not sure how. I’m feeling all of these things, but I’m also incredibly excited because I’m about to begin what is sure to be the most transformative journey of my life!
This isn’t an ordinary humanitarian trip where we go to feed the hungry and then leave and they’re still hungry. It’s not a trip to simply clothe the naked or build schools for villages that don’t have any. Sure we’ll do those things, but it’s only a very small part of the purpose. This is a journey to grow in my faith and to bring God’s love and His kingdom to the nations. It’s about being the hands and feet of God and carrying out His work around the world. Talk about a high calling..! It’s easy to feel like I’m not good enough for that, but the story of Peter walking on the water keeps coming to my mind and it gives me courage. For those who might not know it, there’s this story in The Bible where Jesus’ disciples are in a boat, and Jesus walks towards them on the water. They were terrified because they thought He was a ghost. Jesus told them to take courage because it was Him, but Peter (one of His disciples) needed to make sure… “‘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.” (Matthew 14:28-29)
Jesus called Peter to climb out of the boat and do something that seemed impossible. In faith, Peter obeyed and he walked on the water because God is that powerful.
Of course there are so many reasons I could choose to be afraid of this trip… afraid of journeying to unknown lands into uncertain situations to do work I have likely never done. I can wonder if I’ll be able to handle being away from home and the people I love for that long. And I can question whether or not I’m good enough for this and ask, “God, why me?”
But none of that really matters because here’s the thing… God is calling me to get out of my boat. For the past 22 years, I’ve been sailing in this boat of what is familiar and safe. Sometimes the waves beneath the boat are rough, but I’m safe in that boat. But our purpose in life isn’t to be safe! And God is calling me to take the boldest leap of faith I’ve ever taken and climb over the edge of that boat into the unknown… to walk towards Him like Peter did.
In our last worship session tonight before we leave the country, we sang these words: “Little girl, come down. It’s time to walk on the water tonight!” It’s time. My whole life has been preparing me for this journey, and I’m so ready to see what God has in store. It’s time to abandon the boat, and I am confident that through God’s grace, He will help me walk on the water.
Here We Go! I hope this will be a wonderful journey for all of you too… your support means the world to me!
