If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the Boat

It's all starting tomorrow. I don't know what to expect, and at this point everytime I think about how much I don't have any clue as to what is going on in my life anymore, the more anxious I become. What happened to all the plans? What happened to the simplicity of getting a degree and finishing school? Obviously God's got another plan. I guess what I'm learning is that even when I do have something in mind, God has something in mind too, and that isn't always in alignment with what I might want or think is right. And, either He's making it absolutely clear to me now that He wants me to do something different, or He's seeing if I'll put my trust in Him. Maybe He's seeing if I'll actually have a little initiative... a little bit of faith like Peter did, and test those waters and step foot out of the boat, and trust that my Savior is going to catch me and cover me. A good friend recommended that I read a book called, If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the Boat. At the point of life I'm at right now, I thought it might be interesting.

There's a part that struck me. In Mark's version of the story of Peter, it says that Jesus "meant to pass by them." (Mark 6:48) In this book, the author points out that "to pass by" is used in the Greek Translation of the Old Testament, and this is what it means: Defining moments when God made "striking and temporary appearances in the earthly realm to a select individual or group for the purpose of communicating a message."

"'God put Moses in a cleft in a rock so Moese could see 'while my glory passes by.' ...The Lord passed before him."
God told Elijah to stand on the mountain "for the Lord is about to pass by."
There is a pattern to these stories. In each case God had to get people's attention - through a burning bush, or wind and fire, or walking on the water. With each person God was going to call them to do something extraordinary. In each situation the person that God called felt afraid. But every time that people said "yes" to their calling, they experienced the power of God in their lives."

Right now, I'm afraid for what is to come. I'm not really sure what God's doing, and it doesn't feel good in the least bit. I think that one thing I'm learning right now is that when I'm in the valley, it's when God's doing the most work. When I'm humbled, it's when God can do the most work - and He's going to follow through and eventually show me what's going on. I just have to wait, and keep clinging to what I know is true about Him.


Father, my prayer in all of this is that you protect my heart and make it joyful to glorifly you. In the midst of it all, make me joyful and overflow with happyness so that the love of Christ shines through me, so that others can see you. That is what you call us to do. Paul did it. You sent your son, and HE did it... the greatest gift of all... and now I am here for that reason, to share that goodness - in sickness... in health... in suffering... in pain... in mountaintops, and in valleys. Lord, you are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Ps. 32:7) Fix my eyes on you.

This is what your word says...

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
(Isaiah 43:19)

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
Show me your ways, O Lord,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
(Psalm 25:1-5)

Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you.
(Psalm 25:20-21)

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in you.
(Psalm 39:7)

So Father, help me believe it all... to forget the lies and believe the truth, and to trust that you are with me. This is my prayer. My hope is in You.