“And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” – Matthew 14:29
When the Lord began to call me to take up my cross and lead a section of His flock onto victory in Him, I’d tell myself, “that’s not Jesus calling you, that’s your imagination; you’re a woman, God wouldn’t be calling you to leadership; no one will listen to you, you’re nobody special, whose going to follow you, besides, it’s too much trouble being a leader---too much responsibility----it’s much easier to be a follower, that way you won’t get hurt when people turn on you for speaking what thus said the Lord.” The truth about all my excuses came down to one thing, fear. I was afraid! Suppose I fail, suppose I make a mistake, suppose God didn’t call me, suppose, suppose, suppose!
I imagine that’s how Peter felt on that night recorded in Matthew 14:22-33, when Jesus came walking on the water toward them that were on the boat. A night shrouded in darkness, fear, uncertainty; angry waves beating the boat on every side along with howling wind which caused their imagination to accelerate beyond terror. And then, out of nowhere comes a shadowy figure walking on the water toward them saying, “Take courage, it is I.” It’s hard to perceive Jesus calling us to step out in faith when we’re focusing on everything around us that looks hopeless.
When Peter responded to Jesus’ call and stepped out of the boat, he walked on the water toward the Master. He did the supernatural, the humanly impossible---he did what Jesus called him to do! He walked on the water! It was only after he took his focus off Jesus and began to look at the “what ifs,” he began to fear. And when fear set in, he began to sink. But hallelujah! Jesus was right there with out stretched arms of victory!
As Leaders in the Making, know that when God embeds a call deep within your spirit to walk on water toward Him, He will be right there in the midst. For it is Him that worketh in you to accomplish His good purpose.
Read more articles by Anna Caison or search for articles on the same topic or others.
