Does Jesus ask us to walk on water?
I don’t know what the Lord is whispering to your heart right now, but I know it can feel like walking on water.
We can feel incredibly small as God asks us to believe big.
Maybe, like me, you read the story of Peter leaping into the water and you identify with it.
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 (NIV)
Many times when this story is shared, the emphasis is on how Peter sank like a rock or on Jesus’ words as he reached out his hand and caught Peter.
Can we look at this one more time?
It’s not every day you see someone walking on the water. That’s a scary sight, but Peter was willing to take a risk.
When Jesus said, “Come,” he climbed down out of the boat and took a few shaky steps on the water. His eyes are on Jesus. . . until he feels the wind and sees the waves.
I’ve been there, have you?
Yes, I have been there. I am there. I’ll be there again.
Suddenly I’m walking on water.
Seriously, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I know it in my heart. I’m taking that wild, beautiful step of faith. Until the wind buffets me. And the waves splash. That’s when I take my eyes off Jesus.
The conversation in my head sounds something like this:
Oh word, am I really walking on water?
Am I really taking this step of faith?
Whoah, wait. Where’s the boat? How did it get so far, so fast?
Where did that wave come from? Oh, the wind is whipping me around.
Yep, I’m sinking.
I’m going down.
~~~~\o/~~~~
What in the world was I thinking?
Jesus reaches for us.
Even as I write these words, I feel Jesus reaching for me. He’s reminding me of a very simple truth. Maybe he’s whispering it to you too.
If he is the one saying “Come,” then sink or swim, we are in the deep with Jesus.
And that’s not a bad place to be.
The waves and wind are the realities that come with stepping out in faith. Let’s be real. It would be easier for us to cocoon ourselves in the absolute assuredness of staying in the boat. We wouldn’t have to admit our shortcomings. We wouldn’t have to ask for help. We wouldn’t have to trust. We wouldn’t have to wonder if we’ll fail or succeed.
[ctt template=”4″ link=”2fQ2g” via=”no” ]If Jesus is the one saying, “Come,” then sink or swim, we are in the deep with Jesus. https://ctt.ec/2fQ2g+ #ComeWithMe[/ctt]
We wouldn’t grow. We wouldn’t discover what God wants to teach us. We wouldn’t discover the strength of falling and reaching for Jesus, or the joy of feeling his hands reach for ours.
I don’t want to live in the boat! I want my faith story to be that when Jesus said, “Come,” that I climbed out of the boat.
I hear you. That’s your cry too.
Yes, we will be aware of every weakness. Yes, we will feel the wind. Yes, we see the water splashing around our shins, or maybe our neck, but we will be in the deep with Jesus.
Jesus’ words to Peter weren’t a rebuke, but a reminder.
He said them as he reached for Peter. His said them as his strength held Peter above the waves.
I can’t begin to tell you how God is stirring in this girl right now. There are times I wipe away tears, overwhelmed at all that he’s speaking to me.
It feels big. TOO big.
I have no idea how it’s all going to play out. All I know is that I can’t do it on my own. But this is the beauty of faith — it’s not my job to do it on my own.
All he’s asking me to do is to climb out of the boat one day at a time.
Are you there with me?
Maybe we’ll sink, but we’ll know what name to shout as we do.
Maybe we’ll walk on water, but our eyes will be on Jesus the whole time.
Let’s do this, friends. Let’s step out of the boat and into the deep with Jesus.
Suzie
Next Monday, January 9th, we’ll begin the Believing Big When You Feel Small 21- Day adventure.
Bring your Bible. Grab your journal.
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Thank you, Suzie. Looking forward to Tuesday, the 9th. Michele
Currently feel like my family is at a crossroad now. God is stirring our hearts and not knowing for someone that has a plan for everything sure is unnerving to say the least. So thank you for sharing this word that blessed my soul today.
Forgive my typo, Michele. It’s Monday the 9th! <3
Oh Suzie, I’m all in. Sometimes I feel like my life is walking on water. Especially the “I’m sinking. I’m going down. LOL. What was I thinking?” But yes, whether we sink or swim, we’re with Jesus. I want Him in my boat, and I definitely want to step out onto that water when He calls me. So scary, but so worth it.
Praying that God protects and covers you, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. I love your heart for ministry and for others, Betsy.
Love this! Yes, it’s scary, but I don’t want to live in the boat. I want to step out in faith when Jesus is calling.
Right there with you, Lesley.
Hey Suzie,
As much as I vacillate between getting out of the boat and staying in I know on the water is where that abundant living is. Amidst the fear of failure is the sheer exhilaration of being apart of something so much bigger than me. So I’m gonna “do it afraid and call it bravery” (a wise woman once told me that -wink) and try to come a little closer to the God who invites me to LIVE on the water. Love you Suzie and I am praying for your father. Be blessed! – Kia
This is the best post you’ve ever written. I read it so fast and yet captured every sentiment of feeling small. It’s where I’m at right now. I relate. I’m looking so forward to joining you on this journey, and I can’t wait to see the dreams God has sewn into my heart start to actually happen. They are starting to actually happen. I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Thank you for your faithfulness to write. Praise! Praise! Praise!
Happy Thursday!
Megs
Thank you, Megs! Let’s do this together.
Oh, how I love the emotions you share with us, Suzie! The excitement that can bring you to tears as you here Him whisper “Come”. During this season of life for me, I have heard Him to whisper to me, but I haven’t always obeyed. Sometimes I get too comfortable in the trials of life, that I want to stay there. I don’t want to completely trust again, and then get slammed with life yet again. But, I know that’s what He wants me to do. So, I have to work on riding these waves with Him (for this story, it literally IS riding the waves!).
That stinking comfort zone, right? It’s so enticing, and yet so restricting. I know there are times God has us still (always, actually) but this is different. It’s being still on the inside while climbing out of the boat, regardless of the waves and wind.
I think the blog posts that resonate the most are often the ones where God is doing a work in this girl. Oh word, He’s go so much yet to do in me! : )
This is one of my favorite stories. There is so much to be learned from this story of faith, hope, love and obedience. Stepping out on the water is a HUGE thing. I find it amazing that Peter could still see the storm and feel the wind but yet he asks the Lord to tell him to do it. I thought this last night “sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to let go.” It can be scary just asking the big thing but God has boundless miracles to be received. I have to stop binding them. Thank you for the blog post! I loved the reminder. 🙂
Recently I heard someone else say, “We need to give ourself permission to just do it.” He said that we are often our greatest obstacle. I believe that. It’s not every case, but it has been true for me. This story and conversation is as much for me, as it is for anyone.
It was a wake up call that I was treating this new adventure in our own lives as a problem, rather than an answered prayer. <3
I’m Really excited for this faith adventure! It’s just just what I need right now in this new year! So many changes! I’m really excited what God has planned for our family!! Thank you, Suzie!😁
I can’t wait to hear about those changes, Evelyn.
I’m so glad I found this lovely post this morning. I’m stepping out in faith this year to join the blogging world, and I can tell already that this link up is going to be a major encouragement. So many of the titles are already calling my name, I can’t wait to dive in and see what the Lord has for me today, and maybe next week I’ll have something of my own to link up!
Andrea, I’d love to see you link up in this conversation!
Love this! My post today was unexpected, and I had no idea it would fit with this week’s LiveFree message so well! I imagine Peter must have felt like such a failure when he sank into that water. But God was merely strengthening him – and teaching him to TRUST in all circumstances! With all the New Year’s resolutions to be more, do more, eat less, and make this year “count” — it struck me how much that takes away from simply being content — even if our year was a complete mess! God works well in the messes. Anyway, thank you for this message Suzie! And continued prayers for your Dad!
If we dare to walk on water, we will sink like a stone at some point, but I find comfort in knowing that I can call on the name of Jesus and he will hold me up. Thanks, Rebecca! I’m so glad you joined this conversation today.
Suzie, I love this. Jesus was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and He was with Peter in the water. My flesh craves security and comfort, but my heart wants Jesus.
Can I just admit, for the first time, that I’m terrified? I am SO READY to step out of the boat. But I am one who has stayed in the boat until now; because honestly, it’s scary on the waves. Plus, I don’t know what to do (what Jesus wants me to do) once I do step out. I’m going to! I’m determined. And even a little excited. But I’m really nervous, too.
Of course you can. This is a safe place for you to admit that, but you can also share that with your Heavenly Father. He already knows, and the fact that you are reaching for him is a beautiful act of faith.
What I love is that Jesus was immediately there and not just watching but reach and catching. I’m doing my best to be brave where he calls me out of the boat…but admittedly there are days I feel too small or too afraid. Yesterday was an a-ha moment as I listened to Lysa T live about her new I am study. She helped place a final piece to a puzzle that I have been working on for 11 years and I’m praying that was God speaking and saying, come one girl, one more step out of the boat for me! Thanks for inviting us on this 21 journey Suzie.
I need to hear that live broadcast. Thanks for the heads up!
“Yes, we will be aware of every weakness…” So often it’s the awareness of my weaknesses that keeps me sidelined – held in a cage that says I can’t move forward – I don’t have what it takes. And in those moments I believe myself rather that believing my God who has all ability and strength. I’m praying it’s different this time. I’m praying that each and every one of us will have strength to lay the awareness of our weaknesses aside and choose to believe more in the power of our great big God! Thank you, Suzie!
Even if it’s not different, we’ll do it afraid and we’ll do it together. Those feelings won’t keep you bound. They might be there, but we’ll acknowledge them and keep going.
Proud of you!
Amen! I am getting out of that boat with you my friend, not knowing what it all looks like but knowing who to look too. Trusting one day at a time, one word at a time. Thank you for encouraging me in this. You are a blessing!!