Stepping Out of the Boat

I knew something was up at Rechurch on Saturday before the sermon even started.

They started off with "With Me," followed by "Salvation is Here." This grasped my attention almost instantly. Then, when they closed worship with "Here in Your Presence," I practically burst into a fit of laughter.

All three of those songs were played at First Assembly at a time where I realized that I didn't need to be afraid. The most recent one was "With Me" at Compel a few weeks ago...when I realized that the idea of singing with the worship team didn't seem too terrible. A few years before, at another Compel concert, they sang "Here in Your Presence." That was the first time at the church that I didn't feel uncomfortable or afraid.

I decided to send my friend Vania a quick text message about the songs, asking if she thinks God's trying to get through my thick skull.

Most people would shrug and answer with an "I guess" or "I dunno."

Vania, however, responded with an instant "YES."

Anybody (which is probably nobody) who has been reading my blog should have noticed that my last two entries talked about fear, taking chances, and dreaming.

I tend to move slowly....verrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyy slowly.

So slowly, in fact, that on Sunday morning as Pastor Matt is talking about Peter climbing out of the boat and hanging off the edge of it...and Vania is echoing Pastor Matt in my ear... I basically start to pray I disappear.

I don't jump. Heck, when it comes to pools I take the actual steps instead of the ladder (and if I can walk into the water on an incline or something I'll go for that.)

So the idea of having to jump and take that risk...the idea of not being able to slowly step into something terrifies me. I like to test the waters a little. I take a tiny step, get very comfortable there, and then I take another step.

And, I think... no... I know that needs to change.

Whenever we think about Peter walking on water, let's face it, we don't tend to focus on the fact that Peter walked on water, but the fact that he started to sink. We stay in the boat...we stay where it's safe because we'd rather be boring than risk sinking.

But what about what happened when he did start to sink? Jesus reached out immediately to save him. He didn't let Peter sink down to the bottom because he failed.

And if I take that step out of the boat, I don't need to be afraid that I'll sink because God will be there to save me.

It's just a matter of taking that next step and trusting that God won't let me sink to the bottom.

"God above all the world in motion

God above all my hopes and fears

I don't care what the world throws at me now

It's gonna be alright

'Cause I know my God saved the day

And I know His word never fails

And I know my God made a way for me

Salvation is here"