The First Step of Faith: Walking Above Your Fears

The Safety of the Boat vs. The Call of God:

Have you ever felt God calling you to do something that makes absolutely no sense to your human mind?

In Matthew 14, the disciples were in a boat, battered by waves in the middle of the night. It was a terrifying scene. When they saw Jesus walking on the water, they were afraid, thinking He was a ghost. But Jesus spoke a word that challenged the laws of nature: “Come.”

To the human mind—just like the Israelites facing the Red Sea—this looked like a dead end. Logic says if you step out of a boat in a storm, you drown. Logic says the boat is safe, and the water is deadly. But faith operates on a different reality.

The Turning Point: Taking That One Step

Peter asked a question that changed everything: “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

This was the First Step of Faith.

Peter didn’t wait for the storm to stop. He didn’t wait for the waves to calm down. He realized that the safety wasn’t in the boat; safety was with Jesus.

• The Action: Peter stepped out of the boat.

• The Reality: For a moment, a human being walked on water.

Just as we learned from the Red Sea Experience, we often look for “finite solutions” (staying in the boat), but we need an “Infinite God” who has solutions far beyond our thoughts. Peter’s ability to walk wasn’t based on his skill; it was based on the substance of things hoped for.

What Happens When We Sink?

We all know the next part of the story. Peter looked at the wind, became afraid, and began to sink.

But this is where your faith can be enriched today. Even when Peter’s faith wavered, Jesus was still there.

• Jesus didn’t let him drown.

• Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him.

As we learned from the testimony of Faith in the Storm, God is present not just to change the outcome, but to “save us from drowning in our spirit”. Even when Peter failed to keep walking, Jesus ensured he didn’t fail to survive. The Lord revived his spirit and brought him back to the boat.

Key Takeaways for Your Journey

If you feel God calling you to step out of your comfort zone today, remember this:

1. Don’t Wait for Perfect Conditions: Peter stepped out while the wind was still blowing. Faith is moving before the miracle happens.

2. Focus on the “Infinite Solution”: Your “true self” knows about God. Don’t let your logical mind talk you out of a spiritual victory.

3. Jesus Catches You: If you take a step of faith and start to sink, you are not alone. He is right there to pull you up and make you “stand strong”.

The Call to Action: God is asking for just one step of faith. Will you get out of the boat?

Related Reads

• The Red Sea Experience: Why God Plans “Dead Ends”

• Is God in Your Boat? Faith and Loss in the Storm

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