Welcome to this devotion on stepping out.
Quote by Michelle Obama you may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.
Meditation.
Hope and courage are experiences that allow us to step out of our comfort zones.
The audacity of hope that it was Jesus and not a ghost walking towards the boat of the disciples in the midst of the storm.
The audacity of hope made Peter ask to come to Jesus by walking on the water himself.
When Jesus said only one word,
Come,
Then courage was needed to actually do what Peter hoped was possible.
Hope and courage are twin emotions and actions.
Hope makes you ask for more than you thought was possible.
Courage makes you step out of your comfort zone.
The storms of life will feel frightening and will not have stopped as you leave the boat.
The outcome is uncertain and the water is wet and cold.
Stepping out in faith is uncomfortable and frightening at times.
As we call out for help when we feel like we are sinking,
We experience a hand reaching out just like Peter did.
This hand can come in human form or it can be an uplifting of our spirits.
We hear the words come and trust me.
Come and resist the darkness of resignation.
Resist the evil winds that try to sow chaos and cause confusion.
Come and walk toward me and I will catch you,
Jesus says.
I will pull you out when you feel like you are sinking.
As Peter focused and listened to this voice,
He did not allow himself to get distracted by the chaos around him and he found his way back to safety.
The Bible verse I want to read is from Matthew chapter 14 verse 28.
And Peter answered him and said,
Lord,
If it is you,
Command me to come out on the water.
So he said,
Come.
And when Jesus had come down out of the boat,
He walked on the water to go to Jesus.
I'm saying a prayer.
Jesus,
You made Peter the rock on which you built your church.
Not because he was special,
But because he kept hope and showed courage and because he called out for help when he reached his human limitation.
Peter did not know that he would play a big role in founding the Christian Church.
And so we do not know how our small lives might play a role in your larger plan of saving this planet from the storms that create chaos.
God,
Help us to step out.
Amen.
