Walking on Water (2)
When Peter was certain it was Jesus who was calling him, he left the security of the boat and entrusted himself to the power of God. So far, so good. ‘But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.’ (Matthew 14:30 NLT) So you must focus on the Lord, not the storm. We all know what it’s like to ‘see the waves’. You begin a new venture—a job, a relationship, an area of spiritual growth—full of hope. Then you encounter storms and setbacks. Jesus said, ‘Here on earth you will have many trials...’ (John 16:33 NLT) Expect it; it’s part of the journey of faith! You must feel the fear and do it regardless. Growth requires taking on new challenges. Each time you do you’ll experience fear, because growth and fear go together. But each time you risk leaving the boat it means you’re more likely to do it again. And each time you step successfully outside your comfort zone, you realise that fear no longer has the power over you. On the other hand, each time you resist God’s voice and choose to stay safe His voice becomes a little quieter until eventually you don’t hear it at all. Wouldn’t it be worth any risk to avoid that? Also, choosing caution doesn’t guarantee your safety; it only guarantees you’ll eventually die from something else. The answer to fear is to risk a little more each day, until fear loses its hold on you.