Mat 14:29
So often I stand in my "boat" and look out over the water and I see Jesus. He calls to me, He wants to take me to places I have not yet walked. But I am afraid.
I am not afraid of the storm that rages all around, and I am not afraid of what those in the boat will think of me if I try stepping out. I'm not even afraid of whether or not I can walk on water for I know if Jesus bids me to come I will be able to.
I have learned that Jesus is faithful and even though the storm rages around me He can calm the seas, but if He chooses not to, He will walk with me. If those around me think I'm foolish, I don't mind, for there is no better place to be than to be in His will. My heart desires to walk in obedience...even if the storms are raging and nothing seems to make sense.
So what am I afraid of? Why don't I just step out of my boat and walk toward Jesus? Isn't that the safest place? My fear is that I do not know if He is calling me to get out and if He really is then where does He want me to go? I want to know where we are going before I go!
But my Jesus does not work that way does He? That wouldn't be faith. My reasons sound good as I think "I just want to be sure I understand His will before I go." What if He is saying just get out of your boat then I will show you? Doesn't He call me to walk by faith? And wouldn't that mean to just trust Him step out and go?
This morning I read Is 42:6 "I am the Lord, I have called you in righeousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you..."
He has called me in righteousness, His will and purpose is always going to be a place where my faith is tested and I grow in my faith and righteousness. But Jesus will never leave me alone, He will hold me by the hand and watch over me.
Taking that first step will always be hard, but we can trust Jesus to be with us and grab hold of us if we begin to waiver. He calls us to get out of our safe place and walk on water where we must completely and totally rely on Him.
On my own I will never be able to walk on water, but I can stay in the boat. In my strength I can stay where I am comfortable - but Jesus calls me to rely on Him and walk on the raging seas....
OH Sharon, I love that verse. .I will hold you by the hand and watch over you. . That's my Dad, He takes such good care of me, I needed that today, thank you my friend:) Have a Blessed week:)
ReplyDeleteIs. 42:6 what a great verse with that says so much to us, if we would just remember it.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord really spoke to me through that passage of scripture Saturday night. Everyone else in the house was asleep and I was spending some much needed time in the Word.
ReplyDeleteWhat jumped out at me was that Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water, but when he took his eyes off of Jesus, his faith faltered and he began to sink. The Lord spoke to me that when I take that step of faith, I need to keep my eyes on Him, not on the circumstances, not on what others or doing or saying, but on Him. He, and He alone, needs to be my focus. It is when my focus is taken off of Him that my faith falters and I begin to "sink" in this world...
So I am committed to keep my eyes and heart focused on Him... no matter what comes our way.
Thanks so much for sharing your insights!
Blessings!