(There's a challenge at the end of this post)
Dear Friend,
Welcome to April and the beginning of Q2! We've been journeying for a while now.
You've seen me crying, spitting, and farting on the podcast. You've witnessed my highs and lows. You've cheered me on and prayed for me--I am grateful.
You might not have noticed something, though.
What you were witnessing was me beginning to walk on water.
When God calls you into the next season or phase of your life, He's calling you out of your comfort. Your comfort, in this regard, is your boat. Your boat is where you've lived for months or even years. It's where you've built systems around yourself to survive. It's where you feel safe.
It's where you'll cap yourself if you stay.
Fascinatingly, though we often say that we want more and even dare to utter that we want God to use us, somehow, we prevent either from happening. Why is that? Well, it can be for multiple reasons:
You're afraid
It's not the "right" time (meaning you're afraid)
You don't know how to do it, so you won't try (you're afraid)
I could name a few more, but fear really stops us from moving into uncharted territories. However, if we look beneath the surface a bit more, we'll notice that the real culprit is unbelief.
Now get this: At first glance, it appears that we are in disbelief about ourselves, but the truth is that we don't believe God.
Consider Peter. When Jesus calls him out of the boat, Peter does walk on water. Albeit briefly, he still did it. Walking with his eyes fixed on Jesus, Peter was doing it. However, when Peter noticed the winds and waves begin to pick up, he dropped his gaze and began to sink.
In this moment, Peter was not doubting his ability; He was doubting Jesus's. It was Jesus who told him to come, which means (appear before me now). It was Jesus who gave Peter the ability to walk on the water. It was Jesus who rescued him when he started to sink. It was Jesus who asked him, "Why did you doubt?"
Jesus' question is not about Peter doubting himself; it is about him doubting Jesus.
What opportunities have your disbelief in Jesus snatched?
How have you bound yourself to a lesser position due to your lack of faith in God?
It's not that you can't have a life of abundance or even that Jesus refuses to give it to you. The truth is that you might be struggling to believe Him for it.
As we delve deeper into the theme of faith this month, I want to invite you to participate in a challenge that will help you confront any disbelief in God and step out of your comfort zone:
Identify Your Boat: Take a moment to reflect on areas of your life where you feel comfortable or safe. These could be habits, routines, relationships, or even thought patterns that have kept you anchored in a familiar but potentially limiting place.
Choose Your Waters: Think about an area in your life where you feel called to venture out, where you sense God nudging you to take a step of faith. It could be pursuing a new career path, starting a creative project, deepening a relationship, or anything else that stretches you beyond your comfort zone.
Fix Your Gaze: Like Peter walking on water, fix your gaze on Jesus rather than on the winds and waves of doubt and uncertainty. Spend time in prayer, meditation, or Scripture reading to center yourself on God's promises and His faithfulness.
Take the First Step: Commit to taking one tangible step this month toward stepping out of your boat. It could be making a phone call, signing up for a class, initiating a difficult conversation, or whatever action aligns with the area you identified in step two.
Embrace the Journey: Understand that stepping out in faith is a process, not a one-time event. Embrace the journey, knowing that God is with you every step of the way, even when doubts or challenges arise.
I pray you find the faith to walk on water this quarter.