Has Jesus called you out of the boat to walk on water?
If you’ve known Him very long, He has.
He’s still in the business of training disciples and He knows just how to raise the storm and make the waves crash all around us.
And if we have any curiosity about greater faith and walking toward Him, He calls us to get out of the boat and move toward Him.
When faced with a storm you gotta get out of the boat!
James says it this way,
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:2-8
We long for the completeness, for the maturity, to be steadfast.
But we have so little faith we get freaked out by the wind and waves and don’t listen to Him saying, “Hey, it’s me, cheer up, COME”.
Faith is the take home point of Christianity.
Without faith you and I are cut off from God’s grace and love.
We’re paralyzed by fear and panicked by the storm.
Sometimes I ask God to show me my life from His perspective.
I want to see every trial as the teachable moment He intends it to be.
I want to get the principle He’s trying to teach.
I want to experience the growth He knows I’m ready finally on the brink of realizing.
Have you noticed the talk about’leaning in’?
I think Sheryl Sandberg’s book has dropped it into the stream of consciousness, but it is a phrase every Christian should apply.
If we’d lean in to Jesus we’d find He can teach us to walk to Him on the water.
We’d discover that everything is possible with God.
The limitations we think exist for us can give way to opportunities.
The insurmountable problems we face can be successfully resolved.
And the fears we hide behind can lose all power over us when we see God’s purpose with inspiring clarity.
What do we have to do to have boldness of faith?
Faith gets stirred in our hearts when we really hear God’s promises.
Not with our ears, but with our hearts.
Think of the last time you were spiritually excited?
How long since you’ve felt God challenging you to take hold of a promise and step out in faith?
Trials are really special opportunities to walk by faith.
That’s what James is saying.
Consider it a unique joy to have the opportunity to trust God in a storm.
Let Him show you His power.
Jesus asked Peter, “Why’d you doubt Me?”
But Jesus immediately spoke to them, reassuring them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said.
28 Then Peter called to him: “Sir, if it is really you, tell me to come over to you, walking on the water.”
29 “All right,” the Lord said, “come along!”
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
30 But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and rescued him. “O man of little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Matthew 14:27-31
Faith is the assurance that God is true to His word.
His promises are always kept.
He’s made you lots of promises.
Which one do you need right now in your life to help you walk on water?
