“Get Out of the Boat”

A close friend of mine called to tell me how much she’s enjoying God’s Word Girl. She is really encouraged and read “It is Settled” several times. Even before this story went public it was one of her favorites. It was a timely call; I did need encouragement, not necessarily concerning God’s Word Girl, but I did need encouragement.

Ever feel like the ceiling is coming down on your head? Boy has that been the case with me lately!

I told my friend, “I feel like I’m in a boat on a stormy sea.”

“Well then,” she says, “be encouraged. Know that Jesus is walking on the water and He’ll come to you and tell you what to do.”

“Yeah,” I says, chuckling, “He’ll tell me to get out of the boat.”

She says, “I’m sorry I didn’t encourage you like you encourage me.”

“Oh, but you did, just by calling,” I tell her. And I also tell her, “I guess I’ll have to write the post that I want to read.”

That, coupled with, “Get out of the boat,” really got me to thinking.

I maybe feel like I’m in a little boat on a stormy sea because of transition.

I resigned from the Sunday evening leadership of our small group.

There is a church situation that at times has made me feel sick to my stomach with what I sense going on in the spiritual realm.

I have a friendship that feels like a ticking time bomb.

Death is still around us.

And I’ve been having a lot of pain — which I shamefully admit I also believe is mostly stress related.

I’m not the only one in this boat or in this place.

So here we are, eyeballing each other, mystified and wondering, Where do we go from here? It’s wet, it’s cold, it seems endless, fruitless, and feels hopeless. And yet . . .

. . . look with me toward the horizon. Squint your eyes if you have to. Do you see the figure, the form of a Man walking toward you? He’s on the water. We’re in our boats, weeping and wailing and wondering, “When God, when?” and yet here He is, bearing the scars of His love for us. He’s walking toward us.

Read the account in Mark 6:45-52. It’s interesting. The disciples, against their better judgment, are in the boat because Jesus told them to get in and go to the other side. They were fishermen. Something tells me they had read the storm in the sky, but they proceeded out of obedience and respect for the Master. What they fear, a storm, comes upon them and Jesus isn’t with them. He remained behind to pray.

In the wee hours of the morning, the boat is rocking, the disciples are toiling, and here comes Jesus walking. Only there’s a peculiar verse that says He would have passed them by. Isn’t that a curious thing? Jesus would have passed them by. What stopped Him? They cried out to Him.

That sounds so simple, but look around. Do you think our world is in the state that it is in because people are crying out to Jesus? No. It’s in the state that it’s in because people are still determined to do it their way. Worse, there are some who are sold out to doing it satan’s way.

Back to our story:

“It is I,” He said, “do not be afraid.”

Here’s where it gets even better.

Peter says, “If it’s really You, LORD, then tell me to come.”

“Come,” He says. And Peter goes. He walks on the water! Yeah, yeah, yeah, so Peter began to sink. Who are we to criticize him? How many of us have even gotten out of the boat lately?

I was reading commentary and found some correlating notes and scriptures fascinating. But it was this in particular that struck me. Let’s look at Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”. We love the first part of that verse. God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think! Yay, God! You go! Ah, ah, ah, hold on. He does all of that according to the power that works in us. What does that look like? It looks like Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water.

We want God to stop the storm and He is able, but are we going to cooperate with Him through faith to obtain the miracles we so desire? Are we willing to get out of the boat let alone cry out to Him? Are we willing to follow Him wherever He may go?

No matter how stormy, rocky, or scary, if Jesus says, “Come,” then get out of the boat. The boat is false security. True safety, shelter, and security is where Jesus is, even if there are gales and 30 foot waves to go with them. We’re deluding ourselves if we believe there is peace outside of Jesus Christ.

I implore you, HOLD ON. Wait and listen for His voice and when He bids us, “Come,”

. . . join me in getting out of the boat. Remember, if Holy Spirit is in us then we have the power to get out of the boat and walk on the water. Is the risk worth the benefit? I believe that it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeTu8twnGvU