AS I SIT looking through my hotel room, I am amazed at how beautiful and peaceful Jerusalem is. For many years I have dreamed about visiting Israel and now that I am here, I dream about returning, but this time with friends and family.
I have not seen much of the country as I have been in conference mode but I am hoping to visit very soon Nazareth, Cana, Galilee, the river Jordan, Bethlehem in Palestine, the Garden Tomb, the Mount of Olives, Capernaum, the Wailing Wall, Bethlehem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Via Dolorosa (the road Jesus walked with the cross), the Dead Sea and many more.
It is now 12:51 a.m. and I feel led to share with you something that I believe some of you need to hear at this time, as it will be an encouragement.
We all know the story and miracle of Jesus walking on water, as found in Matthew 14:25-30.
25: About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.
26: When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27: But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28: Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29: “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
30: But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
There are two things I want to highlight in this story.
(1) So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
For years, we have been told this story and when anyone speaks about the miracles that Jesus did, walking on water is always mentioned.
I want to offer an alternative view that the miracle was not Jesus walking on water but that Peter actually stepped out of the boat onto the water by faith.
Think about it for a few seconds.
Jesus walking on water was something that we knew he was capable of doing since only a few verses before he fed 5 000 people. It is amazing to think that Peter actually stepped out the boat.
(2) But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.
Even though Peter had just done a miraculous thing and was heading toward his goal, his calling, his destiny – Jesus – he was easily distracted and lost focus by taking his eyes off Christ and focusing on what was happening around him and as a result began to sink.
Two weeks ago you were encouraged to leave “the village”; this week I want to encourage you to “leave the boat”. Stepping out of the boat is uncommon, unthinkable, scary and doesn’t make sense, but a necessary step in fulfilling your dreams.
Your purpose births your passions and your passions determine your priorities. Make it a priority to leave the boat, but when you do, don’t lose focus, don’t be distracted, don’t take your eyes off the goal or else you too will sink.
I also want to bring to your realization that Peter stepped out of the boat alone. Others were in the boat, but Peter took that step of faith all by himself.
Where you need to go, some of your colleagues, friends and family members can’t go with you: stop trying to convince them and pulling them along. They may not understand or support your dream, and that is okay because God gave you the vision and dream, not them.
Moses went before the burning bush alone; Jesus went into the wilderness alone; Daniel went into the lions’ den alone; David went to Goliath alone; Jonah went to Nineveh alone; Elijah went to Mount Carmel alone; Esther went to the king alone; Joseph went to Egypt alone; Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree alone.
Will you step out alone?
Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth youth ambassador.
