Being brave when it matters
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 towards Jesus. Matthew 14 : 25 - 29 |
It is easy for us to think we are brave and have faith when we are living within our comfort zone. However our passage this week shows us that we see true faith exists when we are trusting God outside of this.
True faith is trusting God in situations that are well outside of what we consider safe, comfortable or even sensible.
As with Peter in our passage, the comfortable option would have been to stay in the boat. After all the winds were raging, the waves were fearsome, and most likely he couldn't swim.
However when Peter sees Jesus he makes the decision to be brave and trust him. Despite how crazy it would have seemed to him, he took a step of faith and climbed out of the boat. What's more he didn't sink like a stone, he didn't drown, although he was very very uncomfortable.
Without taking a risk, without pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones we can never see what our faith really looks like, and it will never get the opportunity to get stronger.
What does the boat look like in your life? What do you need to do to step out of the boat and enter into a new level of trust in God? Have a great week.
This week's song is The Charge by !Audacious. |
Header image by: Jussi Ollila via Flickr