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I wonder if you’ve ever thought about what it must have felt like to Peter when he actually walked on water at Jesus’ invitation? What an incredible experience—something no one had ever done before. But you know, he had to step out of the boat in order to do it.
I’m talking this week about stepping out of our boats, taking the risk that comes when we follow Jesus to do the good works he’s called us to do. This step of faith will often take you outside your natural gifting, and you’ll have to trust God to see you through.
Here’s another thing I’ve learned about stepping out of the boat:
- You’ll always feel inadequate, because the truth is, you’ll always be inadequate.
I would remind you of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
Recognizing your inadequacies doesn’t mean you are not called to do the job; it just means that God has chosen to use you and he will get the glory because in yourself, you can’t do it. It wasn’t long ago that I took on a new project that was totally out of my wheelhouse, as we say. On paper I was not qualified for the job, but I had no doubt that God wanted me to do it, so I just kept going, depending on him to teach me, to put people in my life who could help, etc. Stepping out of the boat usually takes you where you’ve never been before.
- God is always preparing us for what is ahead, even when we don’t realize it.
Think of King David. Do you think that while he was tending sheep he ever thought that God had chosen him to be King of Israel? Not once, I’m sure. But that’s where he became an expert with a slingshot; that’s where he wrote music and words and learned to play an instrument. All of which God used mightily in his life then and to bless untold millions in the centuries since then.
I dare say if you look back on your own history, whatever you’ve learned, whatever you’ve experienced, whatever hardships or difficulties you’ve gone through, they have prepared you for something God is doing or is going to do with you. You may have never chosen that kind of education or preparation, but God knows how to turn even what others meant for evil into good for us.
Is God inviting you to step out of the boat? Don’t miss the blessing that is yours when you do.
God has for you to do. Don’t miss the blessing that comes when you step out of the boat with Jesus.