Nike’s shoe empire made a fortune from its campaign slogan “Just Do It!” Their goal was to inspire athletes globally to push themselves and strive to improve. Ironically, God has wanted His children to do the same thing, but He doesn’t have any fancy slogans or tennis shoes to compel you on your journey. What He does offer is salvation and the gift of eternal life.
Let Go of the Boat
The Bible is full of examples of people who were pushed beyond their limits and saw great things because of their obedience. The first story that comes to mind is Peter walking on the water, which is recorded in Matthew 14:22-33.
The disciples were fishing on the Sea of Galilee, and they saw something walking on the water towards them. Now, put yourself in the shoes of these men that day. What would you do if you saw something walking out on the seas towards you?
Most people would put the boat in high gear and get out of there. Naturally, they thought it was a ghost, and they were afraid. Jesus heard all the commotion from the scared men, and He told them not to be frightened because it was Him. Peter was still in doubt, and he got a little overconfident.
Peter said that if it was truly Jesus, He should allow him to walk on water too. It’s not every day someone tells you to jump over the side of the boat and walk across the sea. You can imagine the fear that went through Peter’s mind as he realized he was being taken at his word.
Peter stepped right off the side of the boat and started walking to the Lord. While the Bible doesn’t say it, it’s easy to assume that Peter was apprehensive about stepping outside the ship. He, no doubt, put his foot in the water to see if it would hold before putting his whole self out there.
You can picture him holding onto the boat while walking a few steps, which allowed him to make sure he wouldn’t drown. The real lesson here is that he didn’t get his miracle until he let go of the boat. He was holding on for dear life because he was scared, as anyone would be in this situation.
The minute he let go and trusted God, he was doing the unthinkable. You should also note that when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the circumstances around him, he became afraid. In his fear, he started to sink. However, Jesus just picked him up and put him in the boat.
How many times have you wanted to do something extraordinary in your life, but you’re afraid? If you want to walk in supernatural realms and see miracles, you’ve got to let go of the boat. You can’t do anything when your fears shackle you, but you can do everything when you learn to let go and trust God.
Learning to Exercise Your Faith
In Exodus 14:1–31, you find the story of the Israelites. The final plague struck Egypt, and the death angel passed over these people. Pharoah commanded that they leave the country, and they must take their animals and possessions with them.
These people just watched utter destruction fall on this land from the 12 plagues, so they had no problem getting out of there. The Israelites journeyed towards the Red Sea when Pharaoh became angry and changed his mind. He wanted revenge on these people for what happened to Egypt.
So he summoned his armies and instructed them to go after them. The Israelites were stuck. They thought they were going to be safe, but right before them was a sea that kept them from freedom.
After all these people had been through, it looked like the sea would be their place of death. They could hear the armies coming, knowing this was the end. God spoke to Moses and told him to hit the water with his rod.
Could you imagine what Moses must have felt that day? He was probably a little angry with God. He was scared that all of this was for nothing, as they would die.
However, Moses was obedient. He had to get in his mind to “do it,” no matter how foolish it looked. As Moses stretched out his rod and hit the waters, the sea parted on either side. Not only did the waters move out of their way, but God sent a great wind to dry the land.
Pharoah’s army was closing in on the Israelites, but they began to walk right through the great sea. What would have happened if Moses didn’t obey God’s words? It could have been a whole different ending for them.
The story wasn’t over, as Pharoah’s army also started crossing the Red Sea. The people were terrified, and they cried to Moses to do something. Once again, God told Moses to hit the waters with his rod. He reached out and touched the waters again, and the sea came crashing down, killing Pharoah and his army.
How often have you faced a great sea of despair that you couldn’t see your way through? God wants you to trust in Him. He can part the waters, move mountains, and make a way where there seems to be no way. However, He wants you to trust in Him.
Faith Over Fear
Has there ever been times God has impressed and moved on you to do something, and you rejected these notions because you questioned your feelings? Sometimes you need to just do it! Sure, you fear what others will think of you, but what if you’re the miracle the other person is waiting for?
If the Lord of all knows every sparrow that falls to the ground, according to Matthew 10:29-31, then how much more does He care about His children? He may use you to bless someone else, but you can rest assured that he will send someone your way when you’re in need.
Your faith defines you. Satan tells you that you can’t go another mile and you’re finished, but God is compelling you to leave your comfort zone and allow him to take control of your life. When He’s in the driver’s seat, you can go places and do things you never thought possible.
A Prayer for Spiritual Growth
Father God, I feel you drawing me to change and become something more significant in Your kingdom. I’ve become stagnated, and It’s time for me to move. Whenever I try to control my life, it seems that I do nothing but mess it up.
I am giving you complete control of me, and I would be grateful if you could use me mightily. All I have I give to you this day so that you can save my family, heal my soul, and allow me to help others. Amen