Stepping out of the Boat Part 2: Now that I’m out on the Water
My first blog was about the passage in Matthew that tells the story of Peter’s journey out of the boat and onto the water. Jesus allowed him to walk on the water as long as Peter kept his eyes fixed on Jesus. God used that passage to tell me to come on the World Race. He asked me to step out of my boat, my comfort and familiar zone, into the water of uncertainty. It has been a challenging but awesome journey so far and I can’t wait to see what God has in store. When I wrote that blog I had no idea there would be a part two. I had no idea I’d be sitting on a boat listening to the same sermon that I heard over a year ago. God used it again to tell me something totally new. Yes, you read that right the service on a boat! How fitting right? Don’t worry I didn’t actually step out of that boat into the real water. It’s an analogy.
The other night we got the opportunity to attend a YWAM (Youth on a Mission) worship service in Greece (the service on a boat). As the person began to speak the words were very familiar. He spoke from the same passage that I heard before making the choice to come on the race and I could feel so much confirmation for me being here. It was like I was hearing the same sermon all over again. It defiantly reassured me of my calling here. If you read on in the story yes Peter is miraculously walking on water, but it doesn’t end there. He takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to sink.
Peter took his eyes OFF Jesus and began to sink.
Those words hit me like a train I didn’t see coming. The Holy Spirit was speaking right to me. I am fairly certain the first part of the sermon was intended for most if not all of the people in the room. This part just seemed like an afterthought, but not to me. It was the part that I needed to hear.
The past month has been hard, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Honestly, there have been too many times where I have missed time with Jesus or just did it and checked it off my list. The times of good set at Jesus’ feet and soak it all in were just two few. I was too tired, too worn out. There were so many waves of distraction, waves of excuses, waves of exhaustion, waves of doubt, and one big storm of brokenness. I have begun to sink. I have taken my eyes off Jesus and allowed all these excuses to keep me from spending quality time with my creator, which in reality is really what I needed to keep me going and healthy. Our relationship has suffered.
Jesus challenged me to step out of my boat of comfort and security and I did it. Now that I’m walking on water I will daily remind myself to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus. I love the fact that when Peter began sinking Jesus stretched out His hand to help Peter from sinking. I see that hand stretched out to me and I am taking it so that I can walk on water once again.
I challenge you to not let anything keep you from spending quality time with Jesus. It’s so important every day. Don’t let it become something you have to do. Keep your eyes fixed on Him and He will speak to you and refresh you every day. He keeps showing me something new all the time. I just need to be quiet, sit at his feet, and listen. He might be calling you out of your boat or if your already out there He might be stretching his hand out to you and pulling you back into his loving arms. Now that I’m on the water I will not sink because my eyes are fixed on Jesus! I might be wet, but I’m not going to drown!
