Stepping Out of the Boat

"When evening came, Jesus was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night, 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 is you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water.'

'Come,' Jesus said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'" (Matthew 14:23-33)

This morning I feel a lot like Peter just before he stepped out of the boat onto the waves. In just a few hours I will be standing in the middle of campus with my students, inviting passers-by into spiritual conversations. 

I'm looking out at the waves crashing around the boat--it's a risk! Who knows how students and professors will respond to such a public event! Will we sink? Will we walk on the waves? 

In this age where campus access is a critical issue, it seems the risks have greater potential cost. My students who are taking a risk with me are terrified... they have never done anything like this. There is so much completely outside of our control. I have no idea what will happen during those 5 hours of public invitation. Will we tremble? Will our doubts and fears get the better of us?

But Jesus' words come calling out from the waves and the wind: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." I've heard those words for my own life, and now it's time. Time to respond as Peter did, "Lord, if it is you, call ME out!" This is what my students and I are prayerfully doing this week... stepping out of the safety of the boat. Choosing to throw off the comfort of private, passive faith. Choosing a different faith--one that follows into the unknown. A faith that doesn't cower in the boat but chooses to be stretched, challenged, strengthened.

And just as Peter was totally dependent on Jesus when he was outside the safety of the boat, we are totally dependent on Jesus as we step outside our comfort zone.

You see, the old adage "God doesn't give us more than we can handle," is a lie--Peter certainly could not handle walking on water. He was terrified by the storm (which, for a fisherman must have been some storm!) and he was overwhelmed with fear as he walked out to Jesus. He began to sink. Will we fail? Will we follow? Will we be too scared to let go of the side of the boat?

Of course He invites us into things we can't handle! But it's not to knock us down or watch us sink, it's to prove His love and strength! One of the many beautiful things about our God is that he is not put out by our fears and doubts. He invites us to come, step out of the boat, despite our fears and failures. 

"Come! Follow me." It's an invitation to places too big, too strong, too overwhelming for us on our own... but altogether amazing with Jesus! I'm amazed that God chooses to use weak, fearful, untrusting men and women like us... but I'm glad He does.

So, today, we choose faith. Today we choose to follow. Today we choose to take a risk, to step out of the boat and trust that the God who created the wind and the waves will allow us to walk on water. 

Today we believe that the same God who gave sight to the blind, made the lame leap, made the deaf hear, raised the dead to life, will meets us and use us. Today we hold onto the promise that He has come to make ALL things new, including Longwood University. Today I pray we will get to see the blind receive sight, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the dead raised to life! 

Today, above all, I pray that, just as the 

disciples fell at Jesus' feet and worshipped, WE will experience His love and power and fall at His feet in worship. I pray we will never be the same after today.