READ: Matthew 14:25-31
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 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?”

Many of the disciples were fishermen. Thus, they were as comfortable in a boat as you are in your bed. They understood how to hoist the sails, tie a square knot, and steer a small ship with ease. This was more than a hobby; it was their livelihood. However, even the most experienced sailor would be spooked by a ghostly-looking spirit walking towards them on the water. Thinking they had sailed right into a horror movie scene, the grown men screamed and shuddered. Fortunately, they found peace in a familiar voice. Jesus calmly said, “Take courage! It’s me.” While Jesus speaking was reaffirming, the situation was still frightening. Jesus was literally walking on top of water. As every experienced sailor knew, water was not for walking.

Peter zealously spoke up saying, “Tell me to come to you on the water.” I am sure his friends collectively rolled their eyes and groaned. Peter was notorious for being bold, maybe a little too bold. As the others smirked at his silly statement, Peter slowly set his right foot onto the surface of the sea. Silence swept over the sailboat. His left foot followed as he held onto the side of ship like a kid trying to get balance on his new roller skates. Then, Peter let go. For the first time in history, an ordinary man was walking on water. It’s a remarkable story.

Unfortunately, Peter failed. He’s only afloat for a few moments. Peter takes his eyes off Jesus, wavers in his faith, and falls into the swirling sea. However, I think there were eleven bigger failures in this story— the eleven disciples that stayed back in their comfort zones. People are quick to preach against Peter’s failure, but the others failed, too. They just happened to fail quietly because they didn’t even try. The disciples remained boat potatoes, sitting on the sidelines of the supernatural.

I imagine that those few seconds of walking on water were forever engrained into Peter’s memory. From dinner parties to sermons, he likely shared this story for the rest of his life. The other disciples just spectated, but Peter participated. It might seem simple, but it’s a crucial concept. If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat. If you want to experience the power of God in your life, you must take a step of faith.

Following Jesus doesn’t always look like we think it should. We think of sitting in a comfy chair at church while scribbling notes as quickly as the pastor can preach. Maybe we even imagine raising our hands in worship or serving once a month in the nursery. Sure, those are parts of your journey, but it’s not the whole picture. In this story, we see Peter following Jesus into a scary situation. Sometimes following Jesus requires risky obedience.

Jesus is probably not calling you to jump out of a literal boat into the Sea of Galilee. He is certainly calling you to take a bold step of faith, though. Maybe He wants you to rethink your career path. Maybe He wants you to create art that connects people with God. Maybe He wants you to sacrifice some of your summer to serve in missions or camp ministry. Those small steps feel risky at first. However, just like Peter, they are pushing you closer to Jesus.

So what is keeping you from taking a bold step? Here are some common restraints we have to overcome:

Fear of Failure
It’s scary to try something new because that means we may not hit the mark. In this story, we see that Peter actually failed, but that didn’t stop him from taking the step. Don’t let failure hold you back because Jesus is ready to pick you up. If you fail, be sure to fail forward. Let the letdown lead to a lesson. You’ll grow from it. Never let the possibility of failure stop you. If you do, you’ll never get to experience anything extraordinary.

Clinging to Comfort
We love what’s familiar. People find peace in their pillows and security in their sofa. It’s appealing, but it’s not your calling. Peter had to step out of the sanctuary of his little ship, but look at where it took Him! He walked on water and experienced God in a new and unforgettable way. The invitation is the same for you: get out of your boat and walk towards Jesus. Is it scary? Yes. Is it worth it? You bet! Your destiny may be on the other side of your security.

Uncertainty
Decision making can be daunting, especially when you’re young. You’re making mental lists of college majors, places to visit, creative outlets to explore, and ministries to serve. There may be multiple possibilities you feel drawn towards. Suddenly, you feel as though all these options have paused your progress. You don’t know which step to take. You get fearful that you are making the wrong choice. Next thing you know, you feel stuck. This is called paralysis by analysis. The best choice is often just to make a choice. Like a phone GPS, God is really good at rerouting you if you make a wrong turn. The pressure is off. Just make a choice, and God will own the outcome.

Failure happens. There is a storm out there with strong winds and high waves. You may start to sink. You may start to waiver, but take heart in something that Peter unquestionably understood: Jesus will save you. He will reach out, pick you up, dry you off, and give you another shot. Failure will never be final with Jesus on your side.

You won’t believe the outcome on the other side of your obedience— even if it feels risky. Faith is trusting God for events that will only make sense in retrospect. Put yourself out there. Forget your fear and move forward in faith. If you want to walk on water, you need to step out of the boat.

TALK IT OUT
Q1: Would you consider yourself to be a risk taker? Why or why not? Q2: Why does obeying God feel so risky sometimes?
Q3: Have you ever taken a step of obedience that felt really risky at the time? How did it turn out?
Q4: People avoid risk because they fear failure, cling to comfort, or dislike uncertainty. Which category do you usually fall under?
Q5: What’s one thing you can do this week to take a bold step of obedience towards something God has called you to do?